White sharks encroaching the arabian gulf

ok, just so you know- I am not white, I am not married and I come from a family of 5.

True real life account -I recently bumped into an old friend who used to work for an engineering company in downtown kuwait. He was the company's senior contracts administrator making around 700 KD/month and was pretty satisfied with his job until a pleasurable young american chap applied for the same job at the company. FYI, my friend graduated from Osmania university(Hyderabad) with an MBa in Finance and had almost 8 years of experience prior to getting that job. Well, as it works out, he was asked to find another job within 3 months or he'd have to fly back to India. As you may already perceive where I am going, you many not be surprised to know that the American replaced him and is making almost double that monthly salary, as I was told by my friend.

Shocked? Well dont be. Since the americans liberated Kuwait in 1991, there has been a major influx of american and European citizens coming to Kuwait on commercial contracts for engineering and oil extraction projects. But it is only recently that more and more western citizens are finding consignments in the private sector as well. This is of course, good for Kuwait's economy as it promotes diversity, creativity and democracy. Or does it? People like my friend live all over Kuwait, and they are not only from India but from nations such as the Philippines, Egypt, Pakistan, and Iran- where output of qualified educated professionals is quite high. Yet, when a white skinned American, british or australian national comes through, qualified or not, Kuwaiti Management unbolts their HR processes to suit any kind of need.

Lets look at some of the private schools here in Kuwait such as the British school of Kuwait or the American school of Kuwait. Through careful and informed communal research, I found out that an egyptian teacher with a Master's degree in Education would be paid nearly 1/3 rd of the salary that a white american or british teacher would for the same qualification and experience. Now, many HR managers and decision makers argue that salaries and fringe benefits are provided to westerners because it is consummate with standards of living in their respective countries. Im sorry to say, but that is a load of horsehit. For one, they are living in Kuwait not in their countries when they are paid, which means they fall under the standards of living for Kuwait. Secondly, they are not the only breed of human beings that have houses to build, families to support and loans to pay off.

Don’t misunderstand me- I’m not distressed or anything cos I make a decent income and have never experienced discrimination of that kind here in Kuwait, but when I personally witness people who have been "intentionally"(I say intentionally because there are of course deserving westerners that need to replace others in some cases) snubbed because a westerner replaced them at their jobs, it boils me to the core.

Lets look a little more in-depth into why Kuwaiti Management particularly favours white skinned americans and europeans. Is it simply racial discrimination, or is there more to it? I believe it is all linked to the corrupt dealings between the Kuwaiti, Saudi and American governments. Executives from super conglomerates such as Halliburton , KBR and even the American Army here in Kuwait are swindling millions through bribes received as they peddle influence and try to return favors to some of the most corrupt business and political families of Kuwait, who today are stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from, believe it or not, American tax payers back in the states. Far fetched? I think not. What’s funny is that even many non-Anglo Americans and naturalized American citizens are discriminated at the US embassy and other workplaces due to their ethnic and religious backgrounds.

On the positive side however, there is change. Now that India’s economy is growing at almost 8% per year (second only to china), more and more Kuwaiti startups and established enterprises are starting to realize that the best talent and expertise has always been in Kuwait. It’s now only a matter of tapping into it. There are more Indians, Philipinos and Iranians being employed in senior management and administration positions and being paid the salaries they deserve.

Give us an equal playing field is all we saying.