Jobless Saudi dentist burns certificate

Jeddah: A jobless citizen burned his dentistry certificate in front of the Civil Service Ministry building in Hafr Al-Batin on Sunday because he claimed that he cannot find a government job.

Muhana Saud claimed the health, labor and social development and civil service ministries have not been able to help. He filmed the burning of the document on his mobile phone and posted it on his Twitter account, with a comment stating: “I burned seven years of hard work and suffering in seven seconds,” according to a report in a local newspaper.

Saud said he burned the certificate to show that it was not helping him find any work, including jobs that did not require any great level of skill. “No one has wanted to employ me because they were ashamed of hiring a doctor for simple jobs. But now that I’ve burned my certificate, I will tell them to hire me based on my high school certificate.”

He said that he was afraid that he would not be able to provide for his family, especially now with Ramadan approaching, even a good decent meal and new clothing for his child. Saud said that he was one of 600 Saudi dentists who cannot find jobs with the Ministry of Health. He said half of the 3,500 doctors employed by the ministry are foreigners.

“When I went to the Civil Service Ministry to tell them that Article 39 of the law stipulates replacing foreign workers with Saudis, the minister promised me that things would be resolved soon.

“Meanwhile the Ministry of Labor and Social Development is busy with the Saudization of the mobile sector, which is such an irony because they are starting with the less important jobs.”

He said many of his fellow male graduates are now working as cashiers while women doctors are selling grape leaves and cupcakes on Instagram.

Saud’s complaints come in the wake of reports that the Health Ministry has ordered all departments not to renew the contracts of non-Saudi dentists.