The jobs performed by frontline workers operating in the construction and transport sectors have played an integral role in the Middle East’s societal and economic growth. Moreover, these individuals constitute one of the cornerstones upon which the region’s long-term future will be built.
Vital though these roles are, it’s difficult to argue that they’re glamorous. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a characteristic unique to the Middle East. It’s not as though Europe’s truck drivers are leading showbiz lifestyles, or Japanese labourers are having to hire publicists. The fact that the PMV industry is – typically speaking – a glitz-fee zone, is lamentable but globally accepted.
All joking aside, this is exactly the way it should be. Nobody enters the construction or transport sectors for the pomp. They do so because they have the skills and mindset necessary to provide sought-after services. The fields of construction and logistics might not be glamorous, but they are certainly laudable.
With this in mind, jobs within these sectors deserve social statuses that befit their importance. After all, the individuals who perform these roles prop up national economies. There should never be labour shortages within the Middle East’s PMV industry. These should be sought-after positions, and individuals with the aptitude and commitment necessary to fulfil the roles should be equally in demand.
Whilst this situation certainly seems to have improved during recent years, when it comes to frontline PMV jobs, there is still room for improvement. Across the region, significant efforts are being made to encourage GCC nationals to enter these professions [page 46]. Progress is certainly being made, but there is still some way to go before the profile of such positions will have been raised sufficiently to attract all comers.
Naturally, it’s impossible to raise the profile of an entire industry overnight. Shifts in societal attitude occur gradually, and changes to operational practice take time to implement.
Having said that, there is no point sitting around simply waiting for change to happen, and encouragingly, there are plenty of regional decision makers taking tangible steps to accelerate this process.
Raising the profile of PMV roles will involve more than just financial remuneration; it will require improvements to operational practice. To this end, a number of the industry’s top commercial vehicles manufacturers are working in conjunction with their channel partners to improve the skills of drivers operating in the GCC [page 42]. Similar initiatives are also being conducted by construction equipment producers and their distributors. What’s more, local fleet owners appear to be becoming increasingly receptive to such schemes.
This shift towards competence development is not only beneficial for safety on the region’s roads and construction sites. It’s also a solid indication that those at the top of the PMV profession are taking these roles – and those who occupy them – very seriously. Providing that this type of top-down change continues to take place, it won’t be all that long before the societal mindset follows suit. In the future, even movie stars will want to become PMV professionals.
Raise the profile, improve the industry
James Morgan explains why PMV jobs should enjoy a higher social status
The jobs performed by frontline workers operating in the construction and transport sectors have played an integral role in the Middle East’s societal and economic growth. Moreover, these individuals constitute one of the cornerstones upon which the region’s long-term future will be built.
Vital though these roles are, it’s difficult to argue that they’re glamorous. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a characteristic unique to the Middle East. It’s not as though Europe’s truck drivers are leading showbiz lifestyles, or Japanese labourers are having to hire publicists. The fact that the PMV industry is – typically speaking – a glitz-fee zone, is lamentable but globally accepted.
All joking aside, this is exactly the way it should be. Nobody enters the construction or transport sectors for the pomp. They do so because they have the skills and mindset necessary to provide sought-after services. The fields of construction and logistics might not be glamorous, but they are certainly laudable.
With this in mind, jobs within these sectors deserve social statuses that befit their importance. After all, the individuals who perform these roles prop up national economies. There should never be labour shortages within the Middle East’s PMV industry. These should be sought-after positions, and individuals with the aptitude and commitment necessary to fulfil the roles should be equally in demand.
Whilst this situation certainly seems to have improved during recent years, when it comes to frontline PMV jobs, there is still room for improvement. Across the region, significant efforts are being made to encourage GCC nationals to enter these professions [page 46]. Progress is certainly being made, but there is still some way to go before the profile of such positions will have been raised sufficiently to attract all comers.
Naturally, it’s impossible to raise the profile of an entire industry overnight. Shifts in societal attitude occur gradually, and changes to operational practice take time to implement.
Having said that, there is no point sitting around simply waiting for change to happen, and encouragingly, there are plenty of regional decision makers taking tangible steps to accelerate this process.
Raising the profile of PMV roles will involve more than just financial remuneration; it will require improvements to operational practice. To this end, a number of the industry’s top commercial vehicles manufacturers are working in conjunction with their channel partners to improve the skills of drivers operating in the GCC [page 42]. Similar initiatives are also being conducted by construction equipment producers and their distributors. What’s more, local fleet owners appear to be becoming increasingly receptive to such schemes.
This shift towards competence development is not only beneficial for safety on the region’s roads and construction sites. It’s also a solid indication that those at the top of the PMV profession are taking these roles – and those who occupy them – very seriously. Providing that this type of top-down change continues to take place, it won’t be all that long before the societal mindset follows suit. In the future, even movie stars will want to become PMV professionals.
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