Saudi switches to Gregorian calendar

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#1 [Permalink] Posted on 4th October 2016 11:51

www.arabnews.com/node/993061/saudi-arabia

RIYADH: Salaries, allowances and other payments to public servants will now be paid according to the Gregorian calendar in order to be aligned with the country’s fiscal year, according to a recent decision by the Council of Ministers.

On Wednesday the Cabinet agreed to switch from the Hijri calendar for payment of salaries, wages, bonuses and allowances to all civil sector employees.

The decision to switch from the lunar-based Hijri calendar to the solar-based Gregorian calendar was effective Oct. 1 and brought the government sector in line with the payment of wages in the private sector.

The government move evoked a mixed reaction.

Concerns were expressed about the banking network’s ability to cover all cash withdrawals on the first day that salaries are paid. Not only will this be an unprecedented situation in the history of the country, but it will also coincide with the date of deposit of the salaries of private sector employees.

According to the Sabq.org online portal, while concerns have also been raised about the effects on shopping operations on the first day of salary deposits, a financial analyst at Bank Albilad, Turki Fadaak, reassured the public of the reliability and absorptive capacity of the banking system and its ability to deal with the change.

“I do not think that the shift to the Gregorian calendar will have any impact on banking systems and operations,” he said.

He noted that the population of Saudi Arabia is a little over 30 million, a figure that cannot be compared to some developed countries which have populations far beyond that and yet experience no problems.

He said there was a sufficient number of ATMs in the Saudi market and that they would be able to cope with the rush of withdrawals if that happens.

As to whether he believes restricting loan operations to a single day by banks will affect banks’ performance in the 29 days that follow the payment of public and private sector employees, he said: “On the contrary, it will lead to greater efficiency in the use of revenues and standardization.”

Faisal Al-Zahrani, a former public servant who was employed in a ministry, said that this was a new adjustment made by the government in order to rationalize its budgeted expenditures. After the payment of the first month’s salary, payments will automatically be adjusted, he said.

Naif Al-Rasheed, a senior journalist in Riyadh, told Arab News that the new system comes in the context of the government’s rationalization program.

“The move is also seen as a positive gesture to serve the interests of the citizens,” he said.

Reacting to the decision, Mohammed Zeyad, a public relations executive, said the shift to the Gregorian calendar was in response to the decision made by the government earlier this week as part of spending cuts.

He added that some of his friends working in the government sector were concerned that under the new decision, they would lose 11 days of payment.

The Hijri calendar is made up of 12 months of 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the moon. The Hijri year has 354 days, 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year which is made up of 12 months of 30 and 31 days, totaling 365 days in a year.

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#2 [Permalink] Posted on 5th October 2016 10:24

1. They are not losing 11 days of payment, rather they were getting 11 days of extra payment as additional incentive, which is withdrawn. Any where else in the world they are paid according to solar calendar.
2. There are two calendars, one is civil and other is religion, so ambiguity in holidays.
3. No pressure on people who are deciding the 1st of lunar month.

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#3 [Permalink] Posted on 5th October 2016 10:34

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Financially, the Government is saving 10 (or 11) days of Pay for every civil servant and Government employee in the fiscal cycle.

When I worked in Saudia we operated on the Gregorian calendar and all of our Pay cycle and Holidays were tuned to it. The Civil Servants didn't so they got extra holidays and got paid quicker than us (on Ramadhan, Eid etc). There were endless debates between Saudees (private vs Public) about buying things for Eid because Pay Check hadn't come in.

Pakistan and other Muslim countries are on Gregorian cycle and they compensate by having bonuses before Eid so people can buy things and do shopping etc.

This is just a drop in the bucket. Won't make much different and will breed resentment amongst masses about Saudia becoming more westernised. The fundament problem in Saudia is greed and avarice of the Royal Family and not robbing workers of 11 days’ pay.

The Royal Family including the recent so called “Sunnah loving Muslims” should stop flying 500 people to a beach in France; that’s the problem!

www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/20/french-outrage-beac...

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#4 [Permalink] Posted on 5th October 2016 11:34

Quote:

Islamic Year is shorter so the employees get paid 10 (or 11) days quicker. By switching to Gregorian calendar workers get paid 11 days later and that increase is significant due to switch in the Pay Cycle. People pay bills when their pay check comes, all of a sudden a lot of people will have to alter their lifestyle choice and bill payments etc.

[/quote]
Incidentally it started from 1st october, difference between lunar and solar was not much otherwise they had to pay a partial salary of difference in days, check payment is adjusted for few days. So not much on lifestyle.

Quote:

Financially, the Government is saving 10 (or 11) days of Pay for every civil servant and Government employee in the fiscal cycle.
[/quote]

They may get paid through some incentives on eids.

[quote]
When I worked in Saudia we operated on the Gregorian calendar and all of our Pay cycle and Holidays were tuned to it. The Civil Servants didn't so they got extra holidays and got paid quicker than us (on Ramadhan, Eid etc). There were endless debates between Saudees (private vs Public) about buying things for Eid because Pay Check hadn't come in.

It is not quicker, it came with an offset. a day or two won't matter much

[quote]This is just a drop in the bucket. Won't make much different and will breed resentment amongst masses about Saudia becoming more westernised. The fundament problem in Saudia is greed and avarice of the Royal Family and not robbing workers of 11 days’ pay.

The Royal Family including the recent so called “Sunnah loving Muslims” should stop flying 500 people to a beach in France; that’s the problem!

This is a shift from 'believing in barakah' to 'Capitalism'. Barakah is a funny and non-existing word in Capitalism.

But they shall remember that whatever gulf got was through barakah;
Their physical efforts, which is a must in capitalism, didn't play any role in whatever they are, today.

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#5 [Permalink] Posted on 5th October 2016 16:16

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Saudi Arabia never had Islam in their constitution or Government System, to begin with.

Normal Capitalist Economy like any other country.

For 80+ Years they have been pulling wool over the Ummah's eyes and all they doing now is dispensing with the formalities.

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#6 [Permalink] Posted on 5th October 2016 18:17

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lol please tell me ur joking? physical efforts? are you kidding me? what effort have saudsi or any gulf arabs made? they digged for water than found oil. over 70% of saudis GDP is from oil revenues. there is no hard or physical. only counteries who diversified were dubai and qatar who invested in tourism and acquiring assets abroad. even rawaafidh iran did better job managing economy. instead of their leaders blowing billions at playboy mansions, casinos and prostitutes they build a strong army which entire arabs are dead scared off.

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#7 [Permalink] Posted on 6th October 2016 09:21

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Allah SWT gifted them wealth through barakah.

This changed their life style.

To sustain with newly adopted life style, they send their children to "school of business management" in the west.

They were taught un-islamic ways of protecting or acquiring wealth. Even they were brain washed to claim that "Haj is coming in the way of their economical progress"

We are hearing, IMF loans, reduction in funds for religious activities.

Changed attitude towards the working class, squeeze and extract the maximum from them, pay them less or explore for cheap labor elsewhere.

Now economy is controlled by Masters in Business Administration MBAs and economic experts.

"Khao khilao" culture is gone!!!!

Barakah said goodbye.

Summary of what Hazrat Umar RA said
"Islam ne hamein izzat di, hum kaheen aur talaash karenge to gumrahi ke gadhe mein girenge"

May Allah SWT make them realise this.

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#8 [Permalink] Posted on 6th October 2016 10:14

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Did Allah Ta'al gave them wealth through Barakah OR as a Test?

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#9 [Permalink] Posted on 6th October 2016 11:24

They received wealth through barakah. They enjoyed it, their first generation which received this wealth used it for useful purpose.

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#10 [Permalink] Posted on 6th October 2016 12:18

Anonymous wrote:

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Brothers (or Sister), You need to really cut down on that Coffee or whatever you are drinking...

Abdulaziz ibn Abdul Rahman ibn Faisal ibn Turki ibn Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al Saud rules from 1932-1953 and this was the first "Oil Generation" and lets see who his advisors were?

O, O! Me teacher, I know...

St John Philby

When Khilafah was abolished, Guess what this great Rich Ibn Saud (RA) did? Tried to rebuild Khilafah and stand up to Colonialism?

O, O! Me teacher, I know...

He sabotaged all efforts and tried to claim Khilafah for himself

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#11 [Permalink] Posted on 6th October 2016 12:53

Anonymous wrote:

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lol! they received barakha through dismantling the khilafah and siding with the kuffar??

you been smoking weed or something......for barakha?

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#12 [Permalink] Posted on 6th October 2016 14:10

Quote:

Brothers (or Sister), You need to really cut down on that Coffee or whatever you are drinking...

Abdulaziz ibn Abdul Rahman ibn Faisal ibn Turki ibn Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al Saud rules from 1932-1953 and this was the first "Oil Generation" and lets see who his advisors were?

O, O! Me teacher, I know...

St John Philby

When Khilafah was abolished, Guess what this great Rich Ibn Saud (RA) did? Tried to rebuild Khilafah and stand up to Colonialism?

O, O! Me teacher, I know...

He sabotaged all efforts and tried to claim Khilafah for himself

10 years back The locals in general were still religious. People who worked for them were treated well, capitalism didn't exist. Islamic character was followed. (Or may be Arab character was followed). They were treating their guests well. They felt proud of serving the hajees (to please Allah SWT).

But those degrees they borrowed from Western Universities changed their culture. Now I claim that, this lead to Barakah leaving their lives. Now they have to sweat like any other capitalist country to survive. As they are brought up as parasites, have no energy to sweat. So I fear that, failures, IMF loans, suicides, sedatives shall prevail like any other country.

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#13 [Permalink] Posted on 6th October 2016 19:31

Anonymous wrote:

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Saudees always treated Foreigners like Trash and it has nothing to do with Western values.

We have been there and seen it. If you wish to worship the King that's your issue, don't try to give us ridiculous justifications.

Saudees have been taking Drugs with Prostitutes since 1960s, don't say anything about the last 10 years.

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#14 [Permalink] Posted on 7th October 2016 08:22

Quote:

replace 'saudees' with "a few saudees".

Show me a country where all countrymen are sufees, junaid baghdadees?

Think of a situation if we are offered the same wealth today, I am sure, I would have turned myself to firaun, are we not mini-firauns with whatever trials Allah SWT has put us on.

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#15 [Permalink] Posted on 7th October 2016 10:40

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Your judgement is so clouded that you are unwilling to accept the Truth.

It isn't a few Saudees, the sexual and moral perversion of Society is not hidden from us at all.

I worked in Saudia so I know their HIV, Drug and Alcohol abuse rates first hand.

The whole world knows their raping Maids and no other Society in the world is like that.

If they were following Islam, Racism and Rapes would be declining but they are on the increase in Saudi society....They are also not following the West because what you maybe think Maids don't gang-raped in London!

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Saudi switches to Gregorian calendar

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