Bangladeshi cleaner showered with gifts by Saudi Arabians after being ridiculed for looking at gold

[Roybot]

Almost 200 dollars a month for cleaning a street (not the most difficult job) is still many times more than what millions of cleaners receive in Pakistan let alone Bangladesh. If you do not have anything useful to say find another thread to troll in. If it was not the case he would not be in KSA. In fact I don't even know if a 65 year old cleaner is even able to get such a job in Bangladesh given the competition.

200 dollars a month is a very small amount. Riskshaw pullers in Bangladesh earn more than that.

 

[Al-Andalus]

200 dollars a month is a very small amount. Riskshaw pullers in Bangladesh earn more than that.

If that is the case why is this cleaner working in KSA? He himself took the decision to go to KSA. Nobody forced him. He can leave every moment. Somehow I doubt that an 65 year old street cleaner (quite possible part-time cleaner) would earn more in Bangladesh.

Or maybe he just loves KSA and prefers to live there and earn less than in his own country at that age? What do I know?

Care to explain this mystery to me?

So you're in favor of bringing in Arabs to do work in sweltering heat, in constant danger of heat stroke and lung diseases while not being able to return home because their employers took their passports? That's what those laborers are doing, just so you know.

What sweltering heat? That is only relevant 3-4 months a year and the heat is in many places less strong than in South Asia were the humidity is greater and where the temperatures are similar.

You are talking about a tiny minority of workers out of 8 million workers. It's a distorted picture of the reality. Sure, work conditions are not perfect for everyone but neither are they as you described it. Far from it.

Millions of Arabs, mostly Yemenis, Egyptians, Sudanese, Lebanese, Syrians, Iraqis etc. already live and work in KSA and the GCC. Most are very content and many have been living all their lives in the GCC.

But yes, I rather give jobs to unemployed locals first and foremost and afterwards fellow Arabs in need and after that fellow Muslims. I prefer that option rather than the option I criticized. I don't consider this strange in fact as something very normal.

An opinion that most Pakistanis share as well when it comes to Afghans and Bangladeshis inside Pakistan (legal as illegal). Understandable.

 

[Qutb-ud-din Aybak]

that's why ALLAH had made arabs rich. They were always known as generous even before advent of Islam in arabia. Arab Bedouin even defeated Hathim al tai in their generosity.

 

[Hiptullha]

What sweltering heat? That is only relevant 3-4 months a year and the heat is in many places less strong than in South Asia were the humidity is many times greater and where the temperatures are similar.

Easily 40 degrees on an ordinary Summers day in Qatar. No rain, unlike in Pakistan where there would be monsoon rains which would cool you.

You are talking about a tiny minority of workers out of 8 million workers. It's a distorted picture of the reality.

Most workers come to the Gulf through the Kafala system. This isn't a tiny minority. We've seen how helpless they were when companies withheld their wages.

Millions of Arabs, mostly Yemenis, Egyptians, Sudanese, Lebanese, Syrians etc. already work in KSA and GCC. Most are very content.

They're content because they're not imported through the kafala system and don't need to worry about having their wages being withheld for several months.

 

[I.R.A]

and his monthly salary was $187 (700 Saudi riyal).

Minimum wage in Pakistan right now is PKR 14,000. The sum this Bangladeshi gets in KSA converted to PKR is approximately 20,000 plus. Don't you think its very little?

 

[Roybot]

If that is the case why is this cleaner working in KSA? He himself took the decision to go to KSA. Nobody forced him. He can leave every moment. Somehow I doubt that an 65 year old street cleaner (quite possible part-time cleaner) would earn more in Bangladesh.

Or maybe he just loves KSA and prefers to live there and earn less than in his own country at that age? What do I know?

Care to explain this mystery to me?



.

I honestly don't know. Maybe some dodgy work contract, or some shady agent .Forget about whether he is there voluntarily or not, do you think 700 riyal a month is enough for someone to survive on?

Doesn't KSA have any law about minimum wage?

 

[Qutb-ud-din Aybak]

Minimum wage in Pakistan right now is PKR 14,000. The sum this Bangladeshi gets in KSA converted to PKR is approximately 20,000 plus. Don't you think its very little?

if other facilities are given then it's a good pay keeping in mind that he may not even find a job in his own country.

 

[Bilal9]

Or maybe he just loves KSA and prefers to live there and earn less than in his own country at that age? What do I know?

Care to explain this to me?

Avg. garments worker salary for young women (minimum wage) per Bangladesh wage board is Tk. 5300 or about $68 per month.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiNjKvn797QAhXolFQKHXjjARkQFggfMAE&url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/05/world/asia/bangladesh-takes-step-toward-raising-38-a-month-minimum-wage.html&usg=AFQjCNHCOpifAZFz30qqVOPXiOQ_WRbYZg

However most garment workers get paid around $150 to $200 per month. Bus drivers, chauffeurs, housemaids make more than that.

But yes, I rather give jobs to unemployed locals first and foremost and afterwards fellow Arabs in need and after that fellow Muslims. I prefer that option rather than the option I criticized. I don't consider this strange in fact as something very normal.

KSA should diversify its economy to become a powerhouse of oil-based chemical products (value-added). I know it is already (polyester chips etc, for textiles) however more needs to be done.

Labor from other nations can be used but younger Saudis need training to be in top management and knowledge based functions (IT, finance).

However while we are gladdened to see Saudis lending a hand to a very poor person (yet honest), Bangladeshis take care of their own too.

We have massive non-Governmental organizations which include two of the world's largest (Grameen and BRAC). They deal in micro-finance schemes to help the poor and are instrumental in turning South Asia and other third world regions into more equitable societies.

http://www.grameenfoundation.org/

http://www.brac.net/

 

[I.R.A]

if other facilities are given then it's a good pay keeping in mind that he may not even find a job in his own country.

No it is not a good pay with or without perks. This is clear exploitation. Keeping in mind Saudis won't be willing to clean their own streets and toilets.

 

[Al-Andalus]

Easily 40 degrees on an ordinary Summers day in Qatar. No rain, unlike in Pakistan where there would be monsoon rains which would cool you.



Most workers come to the Gulf through the Kafala system. This isn't a tiny minority. We've seen how helpless they were when companies withheld their wages.



They're content because they're not imported through the kafala system and don't need to worry about having their wages being withheld for several months.

Are we talking about Qatar specifically here or KSA or the GCC as a whole? Because KSA (12th largest country in the world) and GCC (the size of India) has quite significant differences in temperature all year around depending on the region.

As I wrote hot temperatures are a challenge only 3-4 months a year (during the summer months) and while the temperatures might reach 40-45 degrees on the hottest days, the lack of humidity in many places makes up for this in many ways. In other words the conditions are similar in large parts of South Asia for such type of indigenous workers as well who earn even less and who work in similar conditions. If not worse.

For instance it snowed a few days ago in much of KSA and the weather is cold/mild and will remain that in most of KSA until late March/early April. Many South Asians from regions of South Asia that never experience temperatures below 10 let alone below zero (which is common in KSA during the winter and especially at night) are wearing winter clothes already by late October. Seen this myself many times.

I can only speak for KSA but most of those issues were relatively quickly sorted out and it also impacted locals. The system has its rules in place that deal with most issues the problem is that it is not followed by everyone which is a problem when abuses take place. More should be done to correct this and if necessary an abolishment of this system might be relevant. This is not for me to decide. However there is talk about a green card system.

There are dozens upon dozens of Pakistani users based in KSA/GCC alone on PDF and none of those users have voiced/spoken about working/living under the conditions that you descried in the beginning.

Visa rules apply to Arab states as well expect GCC states.

Minimum wage in Pakistan right now is PKR 14,000. The sum this Bangladeshi gets in KSA converted to PKR is approximately 20,000 plus. Don't you think its very little?

I have no idea about the average salary for 65 year old street cleaners that most likely work this kind of job part time. Also don't forget that there is no taxation in KSA/GCC.

I do not know what an 65 year old, likely part time, street cleaner's average salary is in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh or elsewhere for that matter but it surprises me that such people are willing to move to KSA/GCC if they can earn more in their home countries.

Something does not add up here.

 

[Hiptullha]

Are we talking about Qatar specifically here or KSA or the GCC as a whole? Because KSA (12th largest country in the world) and GCC (the size of India) has quite significant differences in temperature all year around depending on the region.

Theoretically, Doha, Qatar should be milder than Saudi Arabia all year round since it's a coastal city.

As I wrote hot temperatures are a challenge only 3-4 months a year (during the summer months) and while the temperatures might reach 40-45 degrees on the hottest days, the lack of humidity in many places makes up for this in many ways. In other words the conditions are similar in large parts of South Asia for such type of indigenous workers as well who earn even less and who work in similar conditions. If not worse.

Like I said, South Asia has monsoon rains to make up for heat.

I can only speak for KSA but most of those issues were relatively quickly shorted out and it also impacted locals. The system has its rules in place that deal with most issues the problem is that it is not followed by everyone which is a problem when abuses take place. More should be done to correct this and if necessary an abolishment of this system might be relevant. This is not for me to decide. However there is talk about a green card system.

This is the response I'm looking for. Why even talk about 'ungrateful' expats when you yourself agree that the system is flawed and needs reforming?

 

[I.R.A]

I have no idea about the average salary for 66 year old street cleaners that most likely work this kind of job part time. Also don't forget that there is no taxation in KSA/GCC.

In Pakistan this much salary a month won't attract any taxation either. Plus Pakistani senior citizens to some extent enjoy respect and relief as well. I don't know about Bangladeshis and indians.

However, it is unjust of KSA government to offer peanuts.

I do not know what an 65 year old, likely part time, street cleaner's average salary is in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh or elsewhere for that matter but it surprises me that such people are willing to move to KSA/GCC if they can earn more in their home countries.

Something does not add up here.

One factor may be they are there out of their love for Holy places, that's why they are willing to accept whatever is offered to them.

 

[Bilal9]

if other facilities are given then it's a good pay keeping in mind that he may not even find a job in his own country.

This is true. In Saudi Arabia he probably at least has access to clean running water and some sleeping space. In Bangladesh he'd be in the same boat or worse. Probably slum housing. Same story in all of South Asia.

 

[Al-Andalus]

Theoretically, Doha, Qatar should be milder than Saudi Arabia all year round since it's a coastal city.



Like I said, South Asia has monsoon rains to make up for heat.



This is the response I'm looking for. Why even talk about 'ungrateful' expats when you yourself agree that the system is flawed and needs reforming?

It's the opposite way around in fact. Mountainous areas (almost half of KSA is mountainous) are colder all year around than coastal and humid places such as Doha that are warm most of the year. Inland areas are also much colder during the spring, winter, autumn and at night. In KSA for instance, excluding Makkah which is the hottest city in KSA, the coastal areas in the West (Hijaz), say Jeddah and the coastal areas of the Eastern Province, say Khobar, are hotter all year around (on average) than Riyadh. Especially in the winter, autumn, spring and at night. It never really gets cold there unlike all the inland areas.

Yes, but not all over South Asia and not all year around. Only a few months each year. Also the humidity is much bigger in South Asia on average. I am yet to visit South Asia but I have been to Singapore and the humidity there during the summer (no sun in sight) was unbearable to me. I could hardly breathe almost. Overreacting here but I much rather prefer 40 degrees and low humidity to 33-35 degrees and extremely high humidity and rain.

I am just saying that if expats of all walks and fields in life do not want to work in the GCC I will much rather welcome Arabs who want to (as is the case otherwise millions would not be here) and most importantly unemployed locals, to fill their places. As for the system not being perfect, that is not really a surprise and I am yet to see a perfect system in this regard. Even in "civilized" Europe and EU there is an even greater exploration (in terms of numbers and income) of foreign workers, illegal as legal, let alone South Asia itself. I can link to many reports in this regard and I once had an discussion about this topic.

Anyway the important thing is to change for the better in this regard and to solve the mess that is the labour field whether locals or expats. It's a problem for everyone overall and quite a mess.

In Pakistan this much salary a month won't attract any taxation either. Plus Pakistani senior citizens to some extent enjoy respect and relief as well. I don't know about Bangladeshis and indians.

However, it is unjust of KSA government to offer peanuts.



One factor may be they are there out of their love for Holy places, that's why they are willing to accept whatever is offered to them.

Riyadh is not a holy place. Also I doubt that they even think about such a thing. They are willing to work in the GCC for a very simple reason. A higher salary, no taxation etc. You are not going to convince me of the opposite and them working in the GCC for years but somehow knowing that they can earn more at home. It does not make any sense to me.

As for salaries, I already told you that I have no idea. None in my family work such kind of jobs nor do we employ expats in our family/relatives in such kind of jobs.

This is true. In Saudi Arabia he probably at least has access to clean running water and some sleeping space. In Bangladesh he'd be in the same boat or worse. Probably slum housing. Same story in all of South Asia.

I don't know about that but we cannot know whether this data is correct or whether he works part-time or full-time. Or how and where he lives. I have no idea. I hope that he earns what he should earn at least and everyone else.

Minimum wages in KSA are quite a mess for both locals and expats. For workers in the public and private sector alike. That's what makes this complicated. There re de facto minimum wages for both locals and expats and they are mostly in place at work places but sometimes it is not the case. In general salaries in KSA are lower than in other GCC countries but on the other hand most commodities are cheaper in KSA.

As I wrote earlier, the entire labour system has to change. It does not work as it should.

Sorry the last part of my message was intended to the user @User

Anyway I do obviously not support any injustices against any workers, whether locals or natives. Also my intention was not to defend anything or go into details (not an expert on this field at all) but rather to post this story that I liked.

All I know is that this was a good mobilization and that the labour laws have to change dramatically for all parties involved in KSA/GCC which is a work in progress.

 

[livingdead]

Don't know what to tell first mock a poor person neglecting his support to the society then pouring him with costly gift. Social media this days doing everything.

its as if we are all different people...