Nearly 1,500 employees resign from Saudi government jobs in 2016

Nearly 1,500 employees resigned from Saudi governments jobs last, according to the Ministry of Civil Service.

In a report the ministry said 1,461 employees left their jobs in the 2015-2016 fiscal year including 177 women and 37 senior staff at the rank of minister, according to Saudi Gazette.

The resignations coincided with the introduction of new reforms by the ministry last year that tie public sector worker bonuses to a mandatory assessment and allow them to be fired.

The changes affect 1.5 million Saudis working in the government sector.

Read: Saudi government workers can now be fired

The ministry said eight senior officials received service extensions last year and 36 were sacked for reasons including termination during their probationary period, their inability to carry out duties, repeated absence and disciplinary dismissal.

One senior official also left office due to retirement, according to the publication.