86% jobs ‘not fit for Saudis’

Updated 21 December 2012
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86% jobs ‘not fit for Saudis’

Labor Minister Adel Fakeih said yesterday that 86 percent of jobs done by expatriates are not suitable for Saudis. However, he said the new Saudization drive was aimed at creating more jobs for two million unemployed citizens.
Speaking to Al-Sharq daily, he said 85 percent of Saudi job seekers are women. “Moreover, 330,000 Saudis, who graduate from secondary schools every year, also look for jobs,” he added.
He said the new labor laws would help flush out coverup businesses that constitute 42 percent of small enterprises in the country.
“There are about eight million expatriate workers and 86 percent of them (6 million) do menial jobs that do not suit Saudis,” the minister said. Annual foreign transfers of expatriates would cross SR 130 billion by the end of this year, he added.
Fakeih said 68 percent of foreign workers in the Kingdom receive a monthly salary of less than SR 1,000 and 18 percent less than SR 2,000. “This means 86 percent of foreigners get low salaries.”


Saudi crown prince joins Kuwaiti counterpart condemning Iranian attacks on GCC states

Updated 20 sec ago
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Saudi crown prince joins Kuwaiti counterpart condemning Iranian attacks on GCC states

RIYADH: The crown princess of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have jointly condemned the Iranian attacks which have taken place on the their and the other GCC countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

Speaking on the phone the two said the attacks constitute a violation of their countrys’ sovereignty, their security and the safety of their people.

They added that attacks also had serious repercussions on regional and international security and stability.

Iran has been firing on numerous countries since Saturday after the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran.