JEDDAH: A well-informed source at the Ministry of Labor in Riyadh has said that launching the Nitaqat 3 program will contribute to reducing the rate of fake employment figures at all establishments.
It will also help to ensure the Saudization of jobs, the source said, adding that the establishments will be classified according to the wages of Saudi employees and the proportion of Saudis working there compared to expatriate workers.
The source also confirmed that when an establishment is found to grant Saudis higher wages, its classification in the program gets boosted.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor dismissed rumors that there are currently 298,000 fake jobs for women across the construction and retail sectors.
Khalid Aba Al-Khail, director of media and information at the ministry, said in a statement recently that reports of inflated female employment figures included some inaccurate data and information, but he confirmed the active participation of women in all business sectors.
He said that the ministry does not deny that there are some cases of fake employment in some establishments, explaining that the ministry has taken punitive measures against those establishments, including denying them the right to recruit foreign labor and imposing fines on them.
He noted that fines imposed on establishments using fake female employment figures were increased to SR25,000 for each proven case of the malpractice.
“The ministry is currently in the process of developing its capacities to take into consideration the share of Saudis in the payrolls of each establishment, the rate of job retention among Saudis and their participation levels in leadership positions when deciding the classification of the establishment in Nataqat,” he said.
Nitaqat 3 to check fake employment
Nitaqat 3 to check fake employment
Haramain high-speed train preparation for Ramadan
- 1.7m passengers expected during holy month
- 20 new trains bought for full delivery by 2031
RIYADH: The Haramain High-Speed Railway has been prepared to operate more than 3,662 trips for more than 1.7 million passengers this Ramadan, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
Saudi Arabia Railways said it has completed its operational preparations to increase the capacity for travel between Makkah and Madinah.
The SAR noted that the plan for this season includes more than 100 daily trips that would align with prayer times and the movement of Umrah pilgrims.
The company recently announced the purchase of 20 new trains from the Spanish company Talgo to further increase capacity, for delivery between 2028 and 2031.
The SAR stressed that the improvements are in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics.
The Haramain High-Speed Railway operates some of the world’s fastest passenger trains, which travel up to 300 kph.
It connects Makkah and Madinah via Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City along a 453-km railway line.
Construction began in 2009 and operations in 2018.
