I am writing with regard to the article “Expats in Saudi Arabia sent home $44 billion” (June 10). Remittances are nothing more than the hard-earned money of expats and they have every right to spend their income as they want to. And you cannot compare the remittances as a percentage of the GDP of the US and UK with the GCC. It's like comparing apples and oranges. Kurnool Syed, Online response Expatriates are an asset to the Kingdom, not a liability. We could say that the reason expatriates send their remittances to their home countries is the fear of insecurity regarding their residential status, employment and the future of their children. If expatriates were provided with enough security, the $44 billion or a major part of it would stay in the Kingdom and help the development of the nation. Rafay Mohammed, Online response Let skilled expats who have been in the Kingdom for over 20 years become permanent residents. Government authorities have already acknowledged that expats will be required for at least the next 10 years to fulfill the objectives of the Kingdom's development plans. Saudi born, Online response The remittances of expatriates are nothing when compared to the worldwide expenditure of Saudis. Mike Hanopol, Online response I think that the sponsorship system is the biggest reason for this. Expatriate workers cannot do anything without a kafeel (Saudi sponsor). There is no job security; at any time, the kafeel can send you on a final exit. As a result, no one wants to keep his money in the Kingdom or to invest here. I think that it is time that the authorities studied the regulations in effect in the West and implemented some of them here. Zar, Online response These are my earnings and I have to send them to my home country to support my brothers, children and parents. Do you expect me to spend all the money that I earn here in the Kingdom? These are my earnings and my family fully deserves to receive them. Rafiuddin, Online response The amount mentioned in the article comes to around $17,600 per expatriate. However, what the article fails to mention is that this amount includes black money that is being laundered to tax free GCC nations and then returned to the home countries of expats through banking channels causing a huge loss in revenue to nations like Pakistan and India. While the banks in the GCC thrive on these transactions, GCC governments must keep a tight control on this illegal activity. Bilal, Online response
