RIYADH — The Labor Ministry has decided to allow the dependents accompanying expatriates to work in the private sector without the need to transfer their iqamas, a local newspaper reported on Thursday.

 

Quoting what it called its own private sources, the newspaper said the ministry has decided to open the doors wide for expatriates’ dependents to take any job at the private sector.

 

Earlier, this arrangement was only limited to teaching jobs at private and international schools.

 

The sources said Minister Adel Fakeih has decided to give employment opportunities to the males and females accompanying regular expatriates.

 

It is understood that he believes that the system is better than recruitment from abroad. The sources, however, said any company or establishment wishing to employ expatriates’ dependents must be in the green Nitaqat zone, be eligible for recruitment and must have the consent of the expatriate who is sponsoring the dependents.

 

The dependent must also have a valid iqama, aged below 60, does not have a work contract with any other establishment and is qualified for the job if there are no Saudi candidates for it. According to the sources, the ministry made its decision after it liaised with the Interior Ministry on the status correction of expatriates.

 

They said Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has approved the arrangement.

 

Meanwhile, the third stage for feminization of women’s items is scheduled to be launched Saturday. They include feminization of shops for galabias and motherhood care requirements. The Ministry of Labor said the third stage follows the completion of the first and second stages that covered shops for selling lingerie, cosmetics, bride’s dresses, women’s abayas and accessories.

 

 

The third stage includes five detailed stages. The ministry will begin with galabias and motherhood care requirements. This will be followed by feminization of perfumes, shoes and bags; and women’s stockings, clothes, stalls and textiles during the coming two years. Saleswomen will replace salesmen by October 2016.

 

Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labor for Special Programs Dr. Fahd Sulaiman Al-Tekhaifi said the ministry has set a schedule for feminization of shops for women’s items. He said the ministry has allocated 600 male and female inspectors in all of the Kingdom’s regions. They will begin inspection Saturday.