Saudi Arabia may restrict foreigners' stay to eight years

Riyadh: The Saudi Arabian government is mulling over proposals to expand the Nitaqat system, a labour policy to create jobs for its nationals, in its bid to reduce the number of foreign workers and create more jobs with higher salaries for its citizens in the country.

Under the proposed law, expatriates in the country would be able to stay a maximum of eight years and would be discouraged from bringing their families, the Arab News reported Monday.

Expatriate workers living in the country with their wives and two children will be considered as two foreign workers under the proposed system. The couple will accumulate 1.5 points and will incur a quarter of a point per child.

An expatriate receiving a salary of 6,000 Saudi riyals (about $1600) and more per month will be equivalent to 1.5 points in the new system. However, expatriate professionals whose degrees have been attested by Saudi authorities, will be exempted from the salary rule.

Many Saudi nationals and expatriates have opposed the proposals, saying these would discourage foreign professionals from working in the country and affect businesses. 'The ministry has floated these proposals for discussion on its website. The move to discourage foreigners to bring their families is not a good idea,' Ibrahim Badawood, managing director of an NGO, Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives, said.

Badawood said the ministry's plan to consider payment of an 8,000-Saudi riyal monthly salary to a Saudi worker as equal to employing two Saudis could reduce the productivity of professionals. 'Paying a high salary to a well-trained and hard-working Saudi will be a wise decision to keep him in the company and win his loyalty,' he was quoted as saying.

Rafeek Younus, vice-president and managing director of Saihati Group, a Saudi engineering group, said the ministry should avoid taking decisions that would send a wrong message to businesses and investors. He said the new proposed rules would discourage Saudis from opening small and medium-sized enterprises.

According to the draft law, a Saudi worker who earns a salary of 4,000 Saudi riyals per month will account for a full national employee, while those who receive 2,000 Saudi riyals a month will be treated as half a national employee in the Nitaqat system.

The ministry said an expatriate who has completed four years in the lunar calendar will count for 1.5 points in the Nitaqat system. Those who have completed five years will earn two points, while those working for six years will earn 2.5 points, and those who have completed seven years will earn three points at the start of eighth year since receiving their work permits.

According to the the new proposed law, three points are the maximum a foreign worker can earn. The new law will not apply to nationals who cannot be deported from the country, like refugee Palestinians, the report said. The new law was proposed after a study found that unskilled workers stay for more years in the country than skilled ones.

IANS

Saudi Arabia may restrict foreigners' stay to eight years

Riyadh: The Saudi Arabian government is mulling over proposals to expand the Nitaqat system, a labour policy to create jobs for its nationals, in its bid to reduce the number of foreign workers and create more jobs with higher salaries for its citizens in the country.

Under the proposed law, expatriates in the country would be able to stay a maximum of eight years and would be discouraged from bringing their families, the Arab News reported Monday.

Expatriate workers living in the country with their wives and two children will be considered as two foreign workers under the proposed system. The couple will accumulate 1.5 points and will incur a quarter of a point per child.

An expatriate receiving a salary of 6,000 Saudi riyals (about $1600) and more per month will be equivalent to 1.5 points in the new system. However, expatriate professionals whose degrees have been attested by Saudi authorities, will be exempted from the salary rule.

Many Saudi nationals and expatriates have opposed the proposals, saying these would discourage foreign professionals from working in the country and affect businesses. 'The ministry has floated these proposals for discussion on its website. The move to discourage foreigners to bring their families is not a good idea,' Ibrahim Badawood, managing director of an NGO, Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives, said.

Badawood said the ministry's plan to consider payment of an 8,000-Saudi riyal monthly salary to a Saudi worker as equal to employing two Saudis could reduce the productivity of professionals. 'Paying a high salary to a well-trained and hard-working Saudi will be a wise decision to keep him in the company and win his loyalty,' he was quoted as saying.

Rafeek Younus, vice-president and managing director of Saihati Group, a Saudi engineering group, said the ministry should avoid taking decisions that would send a wrong message to businesses and investors. He said the new proposed rules would discourage Saudis from opening small and medium-sized enterprises.

According to the draft law, a Saudi worker who earns a salary of 4,000 Saudi riyals per month will account for a full national employee, while those who receive 2,000 Saudi riyals a month will be treated as half a national employee in the Nitaqat system.

The ministry said an expatriate who has completed four years in the lunar calendar will count for 1.5 points in the Nitaqat system. Those who have completed five years will earn two points, while those working for six years will earn 2.5 points, and those who have completed seven years will earn three points at the start of eighth year since receiving their work permits.

According to the the new proposed law, three points are the maximum a foreign worker can earn. The new law will not apply to nationals who cannot be deported from the country, like refugee Palestinians, the report said. The new law was proposed after a study found that unskilled workers stay for more years in the country than skilled ones.

IANS

India asks US embassy to stop commercial activities by January 16

NEW DELHI: In further retaliatory steps over the arrest of diplomat Devyani Khobragade, India has asked the US to 'discontinue' commercial activities being undertaken from its embassy premises in New Delhi by January 16.

India's action comes ahead of the January 13 deadline for the indictment in New York of Khobragade, deputy consul general in New York, on visa fraud charges. 
Acting tough, the government has asked the embassy to stop commercial activities undertaken under the aegis of the American Community Support Association (ACSA), including restaurant/bar, video club, bowling alley, swimming pool, sports field, beauty parlour and gym.

The US has also been asked to provide the tax returns filed by it with Indian authorities for commercial activities which are afforded through ACSA to non-diplomatic persons, including private American citizens and their families, government sources said.

Indian authorities have cited the provision of such commercial facilities to non-diplomats as a violation of Article 41(3) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961.

The convention states that 'the premises of the mission must not be used in any manner incompatible with the functions of the mission as laid down in the present convention or by other rules of general international law or by any special agreements in force between the sending and the receiving State.'

It is also understood the US diplomatic vehicles will now attract penalties for all traffic-related offences such as unauthorized parking, red light jumping, dangerous driving, etc. Necessary action against Vehicles with AF (Applied for) number plates is also on the cards.

India asks US embassy to stop commercial activities by January 16

NEW DELHI: In further retaliatory steps over the arrest of diplomat Devyani Khobragade, India has asked the US to 'discontinue' commercial activities being undertaken from its embassy premises in New Delhi by January 16.

India's action comes ahead of the January 13 deadline for the indictment in New York of Khobragade, deputy consul general in New York, on visa fraud charges. 
Acting tough, the government has asked the embassy to stop commercial activities undertaken under the aegis of the American Community Support Association (ACSA), including restaurant/bar, video club, bowling alley, swimming pool, sports field, beauty parlour and gym.

The US has also been asked to provide the tax returns filed by it with Indian authorities for commercial activities which are afforded through ACSA to non-diplomatic persons, including private American citizens and their families, government sources said.

Indian authorities have cited the provision of such commercial facilities to non-diplomats as a violation of Article 41(3) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961.

The convention states that 'the premises of the mission must not be used in any manner incompatible with the functions of the mission as laid down in the present convention or by other rules of general international law or by any special agreements in force between the sending and the receiving State.'

It is also understood the US diplomatic vehicles will now attract penalties for all traffic-related offences such as unauthorized parking, red light jumping, dangerous driving, etc. Necessary action against Vehicles with AF (Applied for) number plates is also on the cards.

Ayyappa pilgrim injured in explosion; police begin probe

Kochi: An Ayyappa pilgrim was injured in an explosion that took place at nearby Thrikkakara, when some devotees were having dinner near the Ayyappa Seva Sangh office, police said.

The pilgrim from Tamil Nadu suffered minor injuries in the explosion that occurred last night, they said. Police said they have begun a probe into the incident.

Meanwhile workers of BJP and some Hindu outfits observed a 12-hour hartal in Trikkakara and blocked vehicular traffic for some time this morning. Ernakulam District Collector Sheikh Pareeth and top police officials visited the spot early this morning. PTI

Ayyappa pilgrim injured in explosion; police begin probe

Kochi: An Ayyappa pilgrim was injured in an explosion that took place at nearby Thrikkakara, when some devotees were having dinner near the Ayyappa Seva Sangh office, police said.

The pilgrim from Tamil Nadu suffered minor injuries in the explosion that occurred last night, they said. Police said they have begun a probe into the incident.

Meanwhile workers of BJP and some Hindu outfits observed a 12-hour hartal in Trikkakara and blocked vehicular traffic for some time this morning. Ernakulam District Collector Sheikh Pareeth and top police officials visited the spot early this morning. PTI

SFI march turns violent, stones pelted

Thiruvananthapuram: The Students Federation of India (SFI) protest against the State government move to confer autonomous status on select colleges was marred by violence here on Wednesday. The SFI march to the Assembly complex turned violent with the protestors pelting stones at the police and destroying barricades set up by the police. Inorder to disperse the SFI protestors, police resorted to tear gas and water canons. Slowly, the protests spread to Palayam and University college.

Condemning the police brutality, the SFI protestors held a sit-in dharna in front of the Assembly complex. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan lent support to the protest and wanted the govt to withdraw the autonomy decision. After being pacified by Kodiyeri and V Sivankutty, the agitators dispersed and unleased violence at Palayam and University college. They also attacked a police vehicle parked there.

SFI march turns violent, stones pelted

Thiruvananthapuram: The Students Federation of India (SFI) protest against the State government move to confer autonomous status on select colleges was marred by violence here on Wednesday. The SFI march to the Assembly complex turned violent with the protestors pelting stones at the police and destroying barricades set up by the police. Inorder to disperse the SFI protestors, police resorted to tear gas and water canons. Slowly, the protests spread to Palayam and University college.

Condemning the police brutality, the SFI protestors held a sit-in dharna in front of the Assembly complex. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan lent support to the protest and wanted the govt to withdraw the autonomy decision. After being pacified by Kodiyeri and V Sivankutty, the agitators dispersed and unleased violence at Palayam and University college. They also attacked a police vehicle parked there.

Use food items as shield against allergies

New Delhi: Allergies - respiratory like asthma and bronchitis, and skin related problems such as eczema and rash - generally worsen during winter. An expert suggests ways to improve immunity by eating vitamin rich food.

'Allergy is a reflection of reduced immunity. To improve immunity, fruits rich in vitamin C such as oranges, sweet lime and lemon should be incorporated into the diet,' Ravindra Gupta, Consultant - Internal Medicine, Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon said in a statement.

'People should have a balanced diet with lots of green vegetables, fruits and nuts,' he added. He says it's best to avoid food items such as milk, yoghurt, cheese, ice cream, bananas and cucumbers as these trigger a number of problems like eczema and asthma.

People with allergic tendencies are also more sensitive to smoke produced by cigarettes, vehicles or even incense sticks. Common symptoms of allergies are burning eyes, cough and shortness of breath.

Eat food items rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which contain natural anti-inflammatory agents to fight allergies. Good sources of Omega-3 are soya bean, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and salmon. Fruit juice and green tea should also be included in your diet.

Use food items as shield against allergies

New Delhi: Allergies - respiratory like asthma and bronchitis, and skin related problems such as eczema and rash - generally worsen during winter. An expert suggests ways to improve immunity by eating vitamin rich food.

'Allergy is a reflection of reduced immunity. To improve immunity, fruits rich in vitamin C such as oranges, sweet lime and lemon should be incorporated into the diet,' Ravindra Gupta, Consultant - Internal Medicine, Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon said in a statement.

'People should have a balanced diet with lots of green vegetables, fruits and nuts,' he added. He says it's best to avoid food items such as milk, yoghurt, cheese, ice cream, bananas and cucumbers as these trigger a number of problems like eczema and asthma.

People with allergic tendencies are also more sensitive to smoke produced by cigarettes, vehicles or even incense sticks. Common symptoms of allergies are burning eyes, cough and shortness of breath.

Eat food items rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which contain natural anti-inflammatory agents to fight allergies. Good sources of Omega-3 are soya bean, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and salmon. Fruit juice and green tea should also be included in your diet.