24.3 million work permits issued in three years
October 1, 2017 | 12:00 AM
October 1, 2017 | 12:00 AM
Last Updated: October 1, 2017 | 12:00 AM
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Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH – About 24.3 million employment permits have been issued to workers in the private sector over the past three years, with 45 percent of the licenses issued to the service and engineering sectors, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.
The year 2016 saw a 3 percent drop in the number of work permits with only 8.25 million permits issued, compared with 8.52 million permits in 2015. Over 7.52 million permits were issued or renewed in 2014.
Expatriate workers in Riyadh, Makkah and Eastern Province accounted for the largest number of work permits with 65 percent of the total.
The Ministry of Labor recently stopped all applications by expatriate workers who wanted to change their profession to engineer.
“The minister of labor met with Saudi engineers and listened to their concerns over the shortage of employment opportunities for Saudi engineers because expatriate workers control the market. Following the meeting, the minister issued orders to concerned agencies not to process any change of profession applications filed by expatriates to work as engineers,” explained Khalid Aba Al-Khail, the ministry’s spokesman.
The ministry announced earlier that it would not issue seasonal, permanent or temporary visas to certain professions, which are restricted to Saudi employees only. Expatriate workers with Saudi-restricted professions cannot renew their work permits nor can they switch to other sectors.
The ministry set 19 jobs as off-limits to expatriate workers which are: chief administrator of human resources in public or private sector, personnel affairs director, labor affairs director, personnel relations director, personnel affairs specialist, personnel affairs clerk, recruitment clerk, employee affairs clerk, time-keeper, general receptionist, hotel receptionist, hospital receptionist, complaint clerk, cashier, security guard, expeditor, keysmith, customs clearer, women accessory shop salesperson.
The ministry said the decision to restrict these jobs to Saudis only came in line with the government's policies aiming to Saudize jobs.
The ministry stressed that it will continue the field inspection visits across the country and impose penalties on violators of residence and labor regulations.
RIYADH – About 24.3 million employment permits have been issued to workers in the private sector over the past three years, with 45 percent of the licenses issued to the service and engineering sectors, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.
The year 2016 saw a 3 percent drop in the number of work permits with only 8.25 million permits issued, compared with 8.52 million permits in 2015. Over 7.52 million permits were issued or renewed in 2014.
Expatriate workers in Riyadh, Makkah and Eastern Province accounted for the largest number of work permits with 65 percent of the total.
The Ministry of Labor recently stopped all applications by expatriate workers who wanted to change their profession to engineer.
“The minister of labor met with Saudi engineers and listened to their concerns over the shortage of employment opportunities for Saudi engineers because expatriate workers control the market. Following the meeting, the minister issued orders to concerned agencies not to process any change of profession applications filed by expatriates to work as engineers,” explained Khalid Aba Al-Khail, the ministry’s spokesman.
The ministry announced earlier that it would not issue seasonal, permanent or temporary visas to certain professions, which are restricted to Saudi employees only. Expatriate workers with Saudi-restricted professions cannot renew their work permits nor can they switch to other sectors.
The ministry set 19 jobs as off-limits to expatriate workers which are: chief administrator of human resources in public or private sector, personnel affairs director, labor affairs director, personnel relations director, personnel affairs specialist, personnel affairs clerk, recruitment clerk, employee affairs clerk, time-keeper, general receptionist, hotel receptionist, hospital receptionist, complaint clerk, cashier, security guard, expeditor, keysmith, customs clearer, women accessory shop salesperson.
The ministry said the decision to restrict these jobs to Saudis only came in line with the government's policies aiming to Saudize jobs.
The ministry stressed that it will continue the field inspection visits across the country and impose penalties on violators of residence and labor regulations.
