Saudi to introduce six projects to boost Saudisation

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Development is reportedly in the process of producing six projects to increase Saudisation in the labour market.

Arab News cited a source as saying a key objective of the ministry is to reduce the difference in costs between hiring Saudis and expat workers.

The projects involve developing recruitment mechanisms so sectors depend entirely on the local market to hire workers.

They will also include professional tests to support technical specialties, developing employment mechanisms, guided Saudisation of jobs and balancing the current Nitaqat system, according to the publication.

The eventual goal will be to recruit only skilled foreign workers in various business sectors, Arab News said.

The kingdom has recently stepped up its Saudisation plans with restrictions imposed on mobile shops to employ 50 per cent Saudis by early June and 100 per cent by early September.

This has resulted in several shops shutting down entirely.

Read: 40% of mobile shops fail to meet Saudisation target, 30% shut down

Following this, the ministry will also pursue Saudisation in the car sale and rental sectors and healthcare, according to reports.

Read: Saudi to nationalise health, automobile sectors