Saudi Arabia Takes Unprecedented Steps to Reduce Overseas Recruitments

Monday August 23, 2004 (0042 PST)

Riyadh,August 23(Paktribune):Faced with a high un-employment rate among its young population, and an expatriate work-force reaching almost 9 million now, Saudi Government has vowed to reduce the number of foreign workers to 20% of the current levels in next 8 years.

Announcing the new rules, the Ministry has laid down a restriction on the employers seeking foreign work force, to submit all their requirements, applications for visas, once in two months only. The authorities expect that in this way, the computerized databases would be up to date, and all applications would be processed with accuracy.

The ministry has already issued a ban on the recruitment of foreign workers by small businesses having fewer than 10 employees. The ban came into effect on August 21, 2004, when a grace period expired.

The Saudi Government has already formulated a plan to create more jobs and business opportunities for Saudi women. The ambitious plan, among other steps, includes restricting jobs in any shops dealing in women-only goods and services. At present only about 6 percent of an estimated 5 million Saudi women of working age have some form of an employment.