JEDDAH, 2 April 2006 — Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi announced yesterday that his ministry was reducing the Saudization rates for certain categories of jobs from 30 to 10 percent after noticing that Saudis rarely apply for such jobs. “The decision covers jobs at bakeries, tailoring shops, blacksmithy, carpentry, aluminum works, mechanical works, auto workshops, laundries, farms, agricultural and animal projects, land transport, driving trailer trucks and other heavy vehicles, gas stations, pharmacies and optical centers,” Gosaibi said.
However, the minister insisted that administrative, financial and receptionist jobs at the above workplaces must be filled by Saudis.
“If any Saudi intends to work in the above categories, he should be given preference,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the minister as saying. “Companies and shops that deny Saudis such jobs will not get visas,” he added.
The minister said the new decision was taken on the recommendation of a committee that was set up to implement resolutions related to Saudization.
The decision comes after many businessmen had complained that they had to stop their businesses as a result of not getting an adequate number of Saudi workers to comply with the Saudization regulations and not receiving visas to recruit foreign manpower required for their activities. Commercial and industrial firms have been asked to Saudize at least 30 percent of their jobs while contractors and operation and maintenance firms should have 10 percent Saudization.
The new Labor Law, which was approved by the Cabinet last September, has raised the rate of Saudization of jobs in companies to 75 percent as part of efforts to reduce unemployment among its citizens. The law, however, allows the labor minister to cut this rate temporarily if there is a shortage of qualified hands required by companies.
Al-Gosaibi said the new law, which replaces the one issued 37 years ago, took into account national and international developments.
“The law emphasizes employment of Saudis and urges employers to provide them with suitable working atmosphere,” the minister said. It has put retirement age for men at 60 and women at 55 and allows early retirement.
