The decision of the Ministry of Labor to raise foreign labor fees to SR 2,400 a year as part of the Nitaqat program has already affected school and university transportation fares. Transport companies have raised their fees up to 60 percent, a local newspaper reported.
Abu Adel, owner of a transportation firm, said the Nitaqat program, along with the ministry's decision, has caused problems for his firm. "When starting the process to transfer the ownership of a number of cars, the official told me that I should employ Saudis, without giving me enough time to sort out the problem of finding Saudi drivers," he said.
He pointed out that the decision will prompt his firm, as well as others, to raise the prices of contracts to be signed with schools and universities. "These in turn will increase the fare that parents pay, which will result in problems at all levels."
Expat fees expected to make school transport costlier
Expat fees expected to make school transport costlier
Rainfed agriculture booms 1,100% under Saudi rural development initiative
- It is one of eight agricultural segments receiving program support
RIYADH: The Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, known as Saudi Reef, has announced exceptional growth in its rainfed crops sector, one of eight agricultural segments receiving program support, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The sector has registered extraordinary expansion, surpassing 1,100 percent, with participant numbers climbing to over 13,300 beneficiaries nationwide.
Program spokesman Majed Al-Buraikan identified rainfed agriculture as a cornerstone of Saudi Reef’s achievements, highlighting its role in boosting production efficiency, bolstering food security and self-reliance, enabling sustainable farming in water-scarce regions, and raising income levels and quality of life for smallholder farmers — all consistent with Vision 2030 priorities.
Al-Buraikan outlined the program’s principal aims, including broadening the agricultural production foundation, securing food independence across multiple crop categories, enhancing smallholder farmer prosperity and employment prospects to foster social cohesion, and safeguarding environmental and natural resources throughout rural Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Reef extends support and technical assistance across eight distinct sectors: honey production, fruit cultivation, coffee production, rose farming, rainfed crops, livestock raising, artisanal fishing, and value-added agricultural products.
