A common sight on the streets of Jeddah are the many imported foreign workers from poorer countries who are brought to Saudi Arabia to clean the streets. Trashing of the streets is a big problem. It is done because everyone knows there are street cleaners. They work amid the extreme heat and dust and the exhaust fumes from thousands of vehicles. Their jobs are not easy or pleasant and their wages are considered low. However, they make enough money to support their families back home.
7 comments:
What a horrible job. In the West street sweepers originated in an effort to keep manage the waste from horses and other animals. I wonder why this hasn't been superseded with a mobile sweeper as in most US cities?
I love this slice of life. So ironic, I wouldn't know what to do. The workers are exploited maybe a little bit, but what would they do in their native countries without this job.
It sounds like hard work.
Sure it's not because no one has taught them to pick up after themselves?
My comment was not about life in Saudi Arabia specifically; I think the same thing going about in my hometown in the USA.
Judith - Sadly littering is a huge problem here in Saudi Arabia. Many people seem to litter because they know these poor workers are brought in to the country to clean up after them. Social conscience is definitely lacking and environmental education is way behind here.
Yogi - You are right. These hard workers - doing these lowly jobs that no Saudi would ever dream of doing - are able to support their families back home and subsist minimalistically while they are here in KSA working. In their own countries they would not be able to support their families like they do here, even though to others, their salaries seem pitifully low. The work in the heat and dust is brutal. I don't know how they do it.
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