Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi Arabia plans to move forward with Saudisation by nationalising 43 types of jobs across four retail sub-sectors starting Tuesday, 11 September, the Ministry of Labour and Social Development (MLSD) said.
The sub-sectors include shops selling utensils and home goods, car and motorbike showrooms, places that sell home and office furniture, and ready-to-wear clothes.
This is the first of a three-phase initiative through which the kingdom will nationalise jobs for Saudis in 12 retail sub-sectors.
“Those who violate the decision that aims to replace foreign workers with Saudi workers in these activities will be subject to penalties mentioned in the law,” the ministry added.
On 9 November, the rich-oil nation Saudise jobs in shops selling optical instruments, watches, electrical appliances, and electronics.
In January 2019, shops that sell carpets, confectionary, building materials, vehicle spare parts, and medical appliances and equipment will hire only Saudis.
Implementing Saudisation is part of the kingdom’s reforms to reduce unemployment among Saudis to 9% by 2020 and 7% by 2030, according to the ministry.
Saudi Arabia’s unemployment rate current stands at 12.9%.
