What is the Value of Human Resource Professionals in Middle East ? How can HR professionals create a niche’ or space of importance in Middle East Corporate ?
From Kuwait, Salmiya
27From Kuwait, Salmiya
Dear Mr. Hussain,
Your query is worth billion dollars. Hope you are aware of the culture being practice in MIDDLE EAST. It may be the same in every company but, i think its the same in majority of the organisations including OIL & GAS sector. Inexperience candidates are being employed through references and those selected on MERIT basis has very less scope for climbing the success ladder. It seems, without applying tactics, its difficult to prove our caliber.
Whatever you wished to create or make it happen, it has to come from TOP MANAGEMENT. TOP MANAGEMENT's major focus is on P & L. I don't think so, this can happen in MIDDLE EAST unless major changes takes place in OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES at TOP MANAGEMENT LEVEL. There are other points as well, which i can't discuss about it because, its a public forum.
Unless you work with westerners or those Visionary Entrepreneurs/Businessman, who truly value the SYSTEMS & PRACTICES, you won't be able to succeed in your mission. Even to get into the best companies managed by westerners, either, one has to be a native or should have pursued his Graduation & Masters from top universities.
If i am wrong, kindly do correct me.
With profound regards
From India, Chennai
Your query is worth billion dollars. Hope you are aware of the culture being practice in MIDDLE EAST. It may be the same in every company but, i think its the same in majority of the organisations including OIL & GAS sector. Inexperience candidates are being employed through references and those selected on MERIT basis has very less scope for climbing the success ladder. It seems, without applying tactics, its difficult to prove our caliber.
Whatever you wished to create or make it happen, it has to come from TOP MANAGEMENT. TOP MANAGEMENT's major focus is on P & L. I don't think so, this can happen in MIDDLE EAST unless major changes takes place in OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES at TOP MANAGEMENT LEVEL. There are other points as well, which i can't discuss about it because, its a public forum.
Unless you work with westerners or those Visionary Entrepreneurs/Businessman, who truly value the SYSTEMS & PRACTICES, you won't be able to succeed in your mission. Even to get into the best companies managed by westerners, either, one has to be a native or should have pursued his Graduation & Masters from top universities.
If i am wrong, kindly do correct me.
With profound regards
From India, Chennai
Dear Shaikh
You have presented my POVs in most apt words. I m glad you understood the essence of my questions. For readers to understand the HR scenario in Middle East, we can provide basic mindsets and general practices or bottlenecks or cultural difference which HR faces in respective middle east countries.
• Most of the corporate are family owned enterprises, tightly governed as per favouritism of top management.
• Emphasis on Human Resource is minimum, They are mostly considered as machine to means, which is profit.
• Money is the only motivating factor thrown at employees. Other motivational activities are discouraged, considering burdensome expenses.
• Degrading Classification or Segregation of employees on ethnicity and country origin.
• Restrictive Employment Laws. Lack of friendly labor laws. Restriction to form Unions or even protest.
• HR professionals are still considered as mere Personnel Administrators, managing Payroll and Immigration.
• HR professionals have no say or even involvement in business function of the company.
From Kuwait, Salmiya
You have presented my POVs in most apt words. I m glad you understood the essence of my questions. For readers to understand the HR scenario in Middle East, we can provide basic mindsets and general practices or bottlenecks or cultural difference which HR faces in respective middle east countries.
• Most of the corporate are family owned enterprises, tightly governed as per favouritism of top management.
• Emphasis on Human Resource is minimum, They are mostly considered as machine to means, which is profit.
• Money is the only motivating factor thrown at employees. Other motivational activities are discouraged, considering burdensome expenses.
• Degrading Classification or Segregation of employees on ethnicity and country origin.
• Restrictive Employment Laws. Lack of friendly labor laws. Restriction to form Unions or even protest.
• HR professionals are still considered as mere Personnel Administrators, managing Payroll and Immigration.
• HR professionals have no say or even involvement in business function of the company.
From Kuwait, Salmiya
Unlike India, HR role in middle East is like clerical role. No charm or challenge. As you said, HR is mainly for recuitment of expats, payroll, liasioning. Pon
From India, Lucknow
From India, Lucknow
One of the primary reason why HR is not challenging here is, because government is not so keen on streamlining employee – employer relationships. Any abuse of human rights or employment terms are considered as civil offense if reported by victims. Many cases are tricky and require laws and regulations to discipline treatment of employees at work place.
The most suffered are lower level labor class workers, then comes clerical workers who are working on same position for their life, with meager rise I salaries and no appreiciation for efforts and loyality.
An employee completing 3 – 5 years in an India firm is revered as an asset of the company, whereas employee who have spent more than 25 years in companies here are not even acknowledged when they retire or resign.
There is abundant money in gulf, but no wealth.
From Kuwait, Salmiya
The most suffered are lower level labor class workers, then comes clerical workers who are working on same position for their life, with meager rise I salaries and no appreiciation for efforts and loyality.
An employee completing 3 – 5 years in an India firm is revered as an asset of the company, whereas employee who have spent more than 25 years in companies here are not even acknowledged when they retire or resign.
There is abundant money in gulf, but no wealth.
From Kuwait, Salmiya
The chief reason is, expats are recruited on contract basis or fixed tenure in most cases. The PMS system is dysfunctional there. No proper evaluation of performance and increment systems in place.
Pon
From India, Lucknow
Pon
From India, Lucknow
Dear Mr. Pon,
When you wrote "unlike India", why are the INDIAN ENTREPRENEURS itself on the contrary role in MIDDLE EAST?
There are Expats from India, who has got the BEST SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, TALENT and lot more. Infact, they are doing more than they did in India. You can take my words for granted. Are these Expats trading with Middle East Opportunities?
In my opinion, HR STRATEGIES must be a part of a HEALTHY SYSTEM adopted by every organisation, exclusively practiced by TOP MANAGEMENT on TOP PRIORITY basis, rather being implemented by HR PROFESSIONAL.
I wonder where the QUALITY(in Human capital) has gone but still, EXPECTATIONS are high in everything we do.
With profound regards
From India, Chennai
When you wrote "unlike India", why are the INDIAN ENTREPRENEURS itself on the contrary role in MIDDLE EAST?
There are Expats from India, who has got the BEST SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, TALENT and lot more. Infact, they are doing more than they did in India. You can take my words for granted. Are these Expats trading with Middle East Opportunities?
In my opinion, HR STRATEGIES must be a part of a HEALTHY SYSTEM adopted by every organisation, exclusively practiced by TOP MANAGEMENT on TOP PRIORITY basis, rather being implemented by HR PROFESSIONAL.
I wonder where the QUALITY(in Human capital) has gone but still, EXPECTATIONS are high in everything we do.
With profound regards
From India, Chennai
good conversation dear all but i think HR SUFFERS SAME DISEASE IN INDIA ALSO PARDEEP SHARMA 91-9878056108
From India, Mumbai
From India, Mumbai
@Shaikh
Pon is presenting a reality of middle east corporate.
@ Pradeep
Dear, HR scenario is still at commendable levels in India. Atleast there are Laws as final resort to employee’s grievances. Its another story that, corruption and laid back attitude of employee and employer do not implement Law Guidelines. India has abundant labor laws, but a complex machinery or commissions to implenet the regulations into practice.
I wonder how many salient points of Factory Act is actually implemented in Factories spread across India. Whereas in middleast, the physical material laws of regulating an industry is implemented strictly but there is a weak machinery of regulating employer behavior towards employees.
Racism, discrimination, prejudice are prevalent everywhere, but there are laws in India or Americas to discourage such practices. But in my knowledge, Gulf does not have an exhaustive or clear guidelines on such matters. It’s a surprise fact that, gulf could have most diverse workforce after USA.
Apart from diverse markets, industries and globalised expansion of business, makes india a dominant job market within and for the world. The only advantages I see in gulf are :
• Better Pay Packages
• Tax Free Economy
• Slow pace of Living
But there is nagging restlessness due to lack of challenge for HR professionals to make a worthwhile career worth the pride. Inspite of proven examples of how HR philosophies can accelerate growth and prosperity with work life balance in a win/win situation for all.
Even in India, HR is considered cosmetically supportive. How HR can really become indispensable part of a business process to its grass roots level. Sooner or later, HR will become a burdensome overheads to be outsourced for cheapest cost. How can HR dept become as important and lucrative as Marketing or Finance Dept. Even IT department is considered one of the most important business enablers. HR is stil struggling to make its presence felt.
From Kuwait, Salmiya
Pon is presenting a reality of middle east corporate.
@ Pradeep
Dear, HR scenario is still at commendable levels in India. Atleast there are Laws as final resort to employee’s grievances. Its another story that, corruption and laid back attitude of employee and employer do not implement Law Guidelines. India has abundant labor laws, but a complex machinery or commissions to implenet the regulations into practice.
I wonder how many salient points of Factory Act is actually implemented in Factories spread across India. Whereas in middleast, the physical material laws of regulating an industry is implemented strictly but there is a weak machinery of regulating employer behavior towards employees.
Racism, discrimination, prejudice are prevalent everywhere, but there are laws in India or Americas to discourage such practices. But in my knowledge, Gulf does not have an exhaustive or clear guidelines on such matters. It’s a surprise fact that, gulf could have most diverse workforce after USA.
Apart from diverse markets, industries and globalised expansion of business, makes india a dominant job market within and for the world. The only advantages I see in gulf are :
• Better Pay Packages
• Tax Free Economy
• Slow pace of Living
But there is nagging restlessness due to lack of challenge for HR professionals to make a worthwhile career worth the pride. Inspite of proven examples of how HR philosophies can accelerate growth and prosperity with work life balance in a win/win situation for all.
Even in India, HR is considered cosmetically supportive. How HR can really become indispensable part of a business process to its grass roots level. Sooner or later, HR will become a burdensome overheads to be outsourced for cheapest cost. How can HR dept become as important and lucrative as Marketing or Finance Dept. Even IT department is considered one of the most important business enablers. HR is stil struggling to make its presence felt.
From Kuwait, Salmiya
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