RIYADH: Professional roles in a management, procurement and the food sector are earmarked to be among 11new localization decisions before the end of 2022, the minister of human resources and social development has announced.

Ahmad Al-Rajhi explained that the new localization decisions will also include roles in the drug sector, according to a statement. 

Speaking of the localization of sectors and professions, Al-Rajhi noted that these decisions have contributed to raising the number of Saudi workers in the private sector to over 2.12 million.

Additionally, the decisions contributed in reducing the unemployment rate of Saudi citizens to 9.7 percent, as well as increasing the women’s economic participation rate to 35.6 percent. 

Alrajhi added that private sector establishments’ compliance rate with the labor system and its regulations has reached 98 percent during this year.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development issued a decision to localize 35 percent of consultancy professions and businesses effective as of April 6 2023.

The decision targets all professions in the sector, most notably financial advisory specialists,  business advisers, cybersecurity advisory specialists, project management managers, project management engineers, and project management specialists. 

The decision is expected to boost job opportunities for the citizens.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Muhammad Al-Jadaan issued a ministerial decision amending the terms of consulting services and obligating consulting companies to ensure the percentage of localization.

In September, the Ministry started the implementation of its localization program at amusement parks and entertainment centers.

This happened as it aimed to localize 70 percent of the jobs in that area. 

It also seeks to localize entertainment centers within closed commercial complexes by 100 percent.

Riyadh Chamber of Commerce’s chairman, Ajlan Al-Ajlan, has previously stressed the role of the private sector as a major supporter and participant in achieving the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.

In partnership with the ministry, the private sector has contributed to the localization programs to reduce unemployment, he explained. 

This came during a meeting between the Saudi Minister and businessmen at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce.