Despite their country boasting the world’s greatest oil wealth, many Saudis complain their salaries are not enough to make ends meet, and are taking to Twitter to demand more money.<\/p>\n
“The salary is not enough”, a hashtag launched in early summer on the micro-blogging website, triggered more than 17.5 million tweets, reflecting the frustration of many Saudis over their purchasing power.<\/p>\n
The campaigners called on King Abdullah to order “by decree, an increase in the salaries of all civil servants” of the world’s top oil exporter.<\/p>\n
The basic monthly salary of a public employee ranges from between 3,945 riyals ($1,051) and 24,750 riyals ($6,599 dollars), in addition to various allowances, according to a study prepared by insurance companies.<\/p>\n
In the private sector, the average wage is 6,400 riyals ($1,700), compared with 15,299 riyals ($4,000) in most other Gulf monarchies, according to a reported study prepared by the World Bank and the Saudi economy ministry.<\/p>\n
“Let officials stop stealing… corruption has taken everything and people are the victims,” tweeted journalist Fahd al-Fahid.<\/p>\n
Others posted images they said reflected the misery in the kingdom — a woman rummaging through rubbish, families living in dilapidated houses and students crammed into old trucks.<\/p>\n
Some posted cartoons, one of which featured a Saudi man standing in the shadow of a palm tree whose fronds stretch far beyond the kingdom’s borders.<\/p>\n
The caption reads: “Our assets go to others: the kingdom receives five percent (of the wealth) and 95 percent goes abroad.”<\/p>\n
As an example, Saudi Arabia has announced five billion dollars in aid to Egypt since the army there ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in early July.<\/p>\n
“Inflation and continually rising prices over several years have seriously affected the purchasing power of people,” economist Abdullah al-Almi told AFP.<\/p>\n
The result, he said, was “a shrinking middle class”.<\/p>\n
Unemployment stands officially at 12.5 percent and affects mainly young people, who represent 60 percent of the 20-million-strong native population.<\/p>\n
The job market is still dominated by foreigners who come mainly from Southeast Asia and accept low wages.<\/p>\n
The government has embarked on a policy of “Saudi-isation” of jobs, hoping to reduce unemployment among its citizens who also happen to be big spenders.<\/p>\n
“Nearly 80 percent of Saudis are now living on bank loans,” warned economic consultant Zeid al-Rummani, adding that their spending is more than their income.<\/p>\n
And a housing crisis marked by soaring prices of land and property “puts heavy pressure on salaries”, he said.<\/p>\n
“Rising property prices, which is out of control, is a crime,” complained Abdelhamid al-Amri in a tweet.<\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia is not alone in taking to Twitter to voice economic gripes. Complaints have also emerged from other wealthy Gulf states.<\/p>\n
In neighbouring Kuwait, youth activists launched two campaigns on Twitter to urge the oil-rich emirate to accelerate housing plans for Kuwaiti families, some of whom have been waiting for 15 years.<\/p>\n
The campaigns “Nater Bait”, or “waiting for a house”, and “Watan Belijar”, or “a rented homeland”, have been successful, mainly among 107,000 Kuwaiti families placed on a waiting list for homes.<\/p>\n
Kuwait has a national population of 1.2 million people and financial assets estimated at more than $400 billion. The government builds houses for Kuwaitis against an interest-free loan repayable over 30 years.<\/p>\n
Those behind the campaign there now plan to lobby the newly elected parliament to make the housing problem a top priority.<\/p>\n
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