QATARSUCKS and the world needs to know!

The ambitious campaign for Qatarisation is paying little dividends in the field of technical expertise. Qataris' growing preference for white collar jobs is cited as the main reason for the phenomenon.

A large number of technical posts being reserved for nationals are lying vacant at various government corporations and private companies.

As part of attracting more youth to the technical profession, the government has set up a number of technical schools. However, the annual intake in these schools are minimal. Students are keener to get a certificate from a university, reports Al Sharq.

A large number of posts reserved for Qataris at various companies are lying vacant for want of sufficient applicants. The Qatari mindset that technical jobs are inferior to white collar jobs is what is said to be preventing them from opting for technical positions.

Nasser Al Meerr, a Qatari economist and Chairman of the Contracting Committee at the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI), described the situation as a serious problem faced by the country. Nasser stressed the need for encouraging Qatari youth to accept technical jobs and said a fund has already been set up for the purpose.

"Qatar is witnessing an unprecedented boom in all sectors. The various demands emerging in the employment sector cannot be met only with white collar professionals," he said.

Qatar pioneered in the field of technical education in the early Sixties. However, it could not generate sufficient skilled workers to match the growing demand. Though Qatar's production sector is fast developing and more and more expatriate youth are occupying key posts in technical sections, the presence of Qataris in the sector is nominal, he said.

Sharing his concern over the issue, Ali bin Abdul Latif Al Missned, a QCCI member, said developed nations and developing countries are encouraging youth in a big way to accept technical jobs. The contribution of technical workers is essential for a robust economy, and the best way is to promote private industries.

"Qatar should unleash a campaign to build up the image of the technical profession and thus lure Qatari youth to these jobs," he said

Ali said that no country can prosper by simply depending on an administrative workforce. The mindset of Qataris, that technical jobs ae inferior to administrative jobs, has to be changed.

There are several companies, including Qatar Petroleum, which played a role in changing the traditional belief that blue collar jobs are inferior to white collar jobs, he said.

However, Ali Saif Al Malki, Director (Operations and Maintenance Network), at the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) feels that things are slowly changing, at least in his company's case.

He said almost 30 per cent of top level technical professionals in Kahramaa are Qataris. Qatari representation in Kahramaa's Operations and Maintenance wing is 20 per cent of the total workers in the section. In the Civil Service Department, the Qatari presence is 68 per cent and in the Water Planning Department, 36 per cent of the total workforce are Qataris, he said.

Source: The Peninsula

Qatarsucks.com comment: Anyone who has lived in Qatar knows why Qatarization has failed. These "Gulfi people" are the laziest, most spoiled, shallow people on the planet. Everything is considered an entitlement to Qataris. They think they are above technical jobs. Just let them sign into work and leave, does this sound familiar? People who have worked with Qataris, tell us your stories by making a comment here.