Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RIYADH4543
2006-06-07 13:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:  

A POSSIBLE RETREAT ON SAUDIZATION?

Tags:  PGOV ECON EINV SA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0852
PP RUEHDE
DE RUEHRH #4543 1581305
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 071305Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8366
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2646
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0584
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 004543 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DHAHRAN SENDS
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV ECON EINV SA
SUBJECT: A POSSIBLE RETREAT ON SAUDIZATION?

Classified by Consul General John Kincannon for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 004543

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DHAHRAN SENDS
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV ECON EINV SA
SUBJECT: A POSSIBLE RETREAT ON SAUDIZATION?

Classified by Consul General John Kincannon for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) At a lunch hosted by senior EP businessman Yusuf
Al-Dossary and his brothers, Al-Dossary told the CG that he
expected an imminent but quietly implemented retreat on
Saudization employment policies. Al-Dossary, a member of the
Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce & Industry (EPCCI)
board, said that Abdulrahman Al-Rashed, chairman of the EPCCI
and concurrently chairman of the umbrella Saudi Arabian
Chambers of Commerce & Industry, and five other senior
members of the national chambers had met recently with King
Abdullah to discuss problems arising from Minister of Labor
Ghazi Al-Gosaibi's zealous efforts to promote Saudization.
According to Al-Dossary, the King gave instructions to
Al-Gosaibi to return to the status quo ante on Saudization in
four key sectors: education, hospitals, industry, and
construction. This move would reduce Saudization targets to
10 percent from 30 percent in these sectors. Al-Dossary said
that Al-Gosaibi has seventeen sectors targeted for
Saudization and is meeting with business representatives in
the other thirteen sectors about whether those targets should
be adjusted.


2. (C) At the same lunch, Khalifa and Khalid Al-Dossary
claimed that two Chinese construction companies had recently
received waivers from Saudization requirements. In several
months, they said, these companies will be open for business
in the EP with an entirely Chinese labor force. Asked who
had approved the waivers, Khalifa replied, "A big shot."
Khalifa and Khalid noted that to the best of their knowledge
no other construction firm - Saudi or international - had
received such a waiver.


3. (C) Comment: Whether or not the retreat on Saudization
comes to pass, Saudi businessmen clearly continue to lobby
the SAG hard on Saudization. There is intense pressure on
the government for visas for expatriate workers, particularly
in the construction sector, and we would not be surprised if
influential people had arranged Saudization waivers for
several construction companies in order to get their projects
finished. End comment.

(APPROVED: KINCANNON)
OBERWETTER