Our national expertise is a precious human wealth which must be taken care of and given priority in staff training, rehabilitation programmes and counselling. This expertise has to contribute effectively in developing performance and improving production rates.
We have been calling for this in many ways. Unfortunately, we always get struck by actions that fly in the face of this lofty goal, which makes us confused and surprised.
How long will this ingratitude continue towards people who give a lot to this country? How long will Qatari experts keep facing obstacles and ignorance, despite the fact that they are more distinguished than foreign workers who replace them for flimsy reasons?
Citizens are more capable, superior and trustworthy than expatriates, regardless of their age and circumstances.
We get affected positively or negatively by assessments and evaluations, therefore, at certain stages of our lives we need to feel appreciated, given value after long years of service, sacrifice and dedication in serving the country and its citizens.
Our beloved country, how many fathers, mothers and brothers it is embracing, who spent years of their lives making great efforts to realise great achievements and valuable aspirations, which we can see over time, at the expenses of their health and psychological and social rights?
If these people stopped doing their work for any reason, it does not mean that their expertise should necessarily stop or freeze or their experiences are only confined to specific areas. Their accumulated skills and experience remain with them all their lives, so, why do we neglect and disregard them when they are retired, and show them no consideration?
The most painful fact is that some of our companies and government institutions are recruiting foreigners, whom they call experts or international trainers, while skilled citizens and efficient experts are ignored, especially after they retire.
It is not easy for them to see foreigners taking part in courses and training programmes and receiving huge allowances and rewards while they wish to serve their country, even for free, just to feel appreciated. But unfortunately, they have nothing to do except repeat what a poet said:
A relative’s injustice is more painful to the soul than pain caused by a sword.
This unfair treatment of Qatari experts must end in order to strengthen the role of national experts, whether they are retired or replaced by foreigners who prove less experienced than our loyal Qatari experts.
We say to those who doubt the abilities of Qatari people that our national expertise will neither retire nor fail, and they are waiting to respond to any signal to help, or for reemployment to contribute to their country’s development and progress in many fields.
I liked the constructive proposal presented by Radi Ajlan, head of Relations and Communications Department at the Retirement and Social Insurance Authority, in which he called for reemploying Qatari retirees in order to take advantage of their experience and reduce dependence on foreigners.
The proposal also included provision of a special ward at the Career Fair, which is likely to start in Doha next month under the slogan “Expertise that does not retire”. Qatari experts will continue their efforts to build tirelessly, with enthusiasm and honest determination.
