As the oil price is diminished to the lowest level in the past decade, more and more gulf countries are forced to amend their policies and nationalize the job sector. The nationalization was began back in 2014 when KSA, the largest employer of immigrant workers in the middle-east announced ‘Nitaqat’, which made it mandatory for certain business types to employ Saudi citizens at a fixed ratio to the total workforce. The medical sector nationalization which was announced last week is just another step in the already prevailing policy. Well, many more gulf countries have already implemented similar policies. The job sector in the gulf region is undergoing a face-lift and the coming years will see the growth of localization of jobs.
In countries like UAE, KSA, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, more expats are working than the total number of citizens. Most of such job force is sought from countries like India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan etc… India is the focus country when skilled or professional employees are concerned. Especially in the medical sector Indian nationals dominate in number throughout the gulf countries.
This newly implied policy may affect nationals and expats alike. Gulf countries will cut short several subsidies and allowances provided to their citizens, which will force them to find employment and newer income sources. Another good effect of nationalization is that this policy will initiate them to seek professional education as the competition in the job sector increases. A new work culture will emerge in gulf countries and people will take own roles in national development.
When it comes to expats, within few years the major job sectors like, administration, IT, Health Care, Finance, Banking, Sales etc… will see nationals handling the roles and more and more expats returning to home countries. New positions will be opened only for nationals across the Middle-East. Countries that depend on Gulf Income may have to seek new job destinations or own arrangements to provide employment to large number of gulf-returnees. However, unskilled workers may be safer for few more years as finding national workforce for jobs like construction, oil field, transportation etc… may be require some more years.
In contrary to these suggestions, if the petrol price gets back into the peaks and remains stable then these policies may get amended and the status quo may remain unaffected.
