GULF MARKETS ABLE TO HAVE 900000 YEMENI WORKERS- SAYS AL HAWERI

SANA'A, Jan. 21 (Saba) - Gulf labor markets can absorb about 900000 Yemeni workers and if this happens it would contribute to easing congestions at domestic labor markets and limiting the unemployment rate, Deputy Minister of Planning and International Cooperation for Studies and Economic Forecasts has said.

Muhammad al-Haweri confirmed that the Arabian Gulf bloc can give Yemen 20 percent of the workforce operating in sectors such as trade, restaurants, hotels, maintenance and building.

In a paper titled: Yemen's accession into the GCC……a Model of Speed Path for Integration of Yemen's Labor Markets with Gulf Counterparts, that was presented at the Yemen-Gulf Ties Conference, al-Haweri said a 82 percent average of migrant laborers working in Arabian Gulf States were of people with limited skills; mostly with high school certificates or those who only could write and read or illiterate workers.

While the rate of qualified laborers working at Gulf labor markets is 20 percent, he said, noting that the markets can absorb qualified workers of those holding technical certificates in engineering, agriculture, industry and tourism.

According to the indicators of the Gulf markets, there are clear signs of seeking migrant laborers, skilled people and people with limited skills, he said.

Assimilating Yemeni workers just needs easing difficulties before the process, starting with the problem of the sponsorship ( Kafeel) System including many chains and sometime tyranny that restrict the movement of qualified migrant laborers in Saudi Arabia.

The GCC would help Yemen very much to improve economic and social conditions besides helping its member states through focusing on the disorders in their population structure caused by high rates of Asian workers and protecting their national security and demographic structures, he said.

FR