No expats to be hired if Saudis available

Hatim Al-Mutairi Okaz/Saudi Gazette RIYADH — The private sector will be allowed to recruit foreign manpower from outside only if there are no qualified Saudis to take the jobs the employers are looking for, according to a senior official of the Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf). Deputy executive chairman of the fund Omar Milibari said a project to provide opportunities for the nationalization of jobs before opening the door for foreign recruitment is currently being worked out and will soon be implemented. He made the statement in Riyadh on Sunday while addressing a special gathering to present the fund’s projects. The gathering was organized by the human resources committee of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Milibari said under this project, the recruitment process will be transferred to the Labor Ministry’s electronic National Gate for Jobs to give chance to the Saudi workforce. If an employer is unable to find qualified Saudis within a stipulated time, then his recruitment application for foreign manpower will be processed,” he said. Milibari denied any intention of the fund to stop its financial support to the establishments which employ a large number of Saudi nationals. He said the payment of subsidies was hampered by some complications in the fund’s electronic system but it is now continuing as usual. The deputy chairman revealed that the fund has completed a job-classification index which will help in the formulation of an integrated directory of job descriptions, responsibilities and their required skills. “This index will give a comprehensive analysis of the jobs needed by the labor market to be the focus of training by colleges and institutes cooperating with the fund,” he said. Milibari said the fund, which has 126 branches scattered all over the Kingdom, has facilitated women employment. The aim is to increase their employment rate to 24 percent by 2020, Milibari said.