Chinese workers are replacing Nepali workers in Gulf countries as Chinese construction firms reached the destinations in recent past. Large influx of Chinese workers to Gulf countries have carved out a slice of construction markets, Arab Times reported. Chinese construction firms working in Gulf countries are bringing workers with them. According to data from the Chinese Consulate, in the United Arab Emirates alone, there are almost 200,000 Chinese residents and over 3,000 firms. Likewise, around 250,000 Chinese working in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and other countries. Chinese workers comes cheap with fewer political risks.

According to Christopher Davidson, Professor of Middle East politics at the United Kingdom’s Durham University, Chinese workers bring political advantage to Gulf countries as they do not speak Arabic and the majority is not Muslim. “They do not seek migrant rights like South Asian workers are fighting for,” he said. South Asians including 1.2 million Nepalis have been struggling for migrant workers rights in Gulf countries for a decade now.

According to Davidson, the Gulf’s renewed construction boom has provided rich pickings for China’s construction giants. High profile wins include
China Harbour and Engineering Company $ 879 million deal for Qatar’s New Doha Port project and China Railway Construction Corporation $ 1.8 billion deal to build the Saudi Makkah light rail system.

He said that a Chinese construction company offers the full package, including management and labour. It’s a readymade solution, compared to construction firms from other countries, which will supply the management but source the labour from Bangladesh and Nepal.

Ben Simpfendorfer economist and author of The New Silk Road said that an estimated 50,000 are merchant traders with labourers making up the bulk of the population.

Published on: 27 March 2011 | The Himalayan Times