JEDDAH, 10 July — The Council of Ministers yesterday approved new regulations aimed at gradual Saudization of cleaning and maintenance jobs at government departments. The rules were endorsed by the Cabinet meeting chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd.
According to the new rules, private cleaning and maintenance companies that win contracts of government agencies must have a minimum Saudi manpower of five percent. “The percentage of Saudi staff must reach 50 within nine years,” the Cabinet said.
Information Minister Dr. Fuad Al-Farsi said the Cabinet instructed sensitive government agencies to gradually dispense with cleaning and maintenance contractors by employing Saudis.
He said the government agencies would determine the jobs to be Saudized in the sector in coordination with the ministries of labor and civil service.
“In the contracts for cleaning cities, the government agencies will have the necessary flexibility to apply the percentage of Saudization (as mentioned above) in accordance with the availability of Saudi manpower,” the new rules said.
Al-Farsi said the Cabinet authorized the Labor and Social Affairs Ministry to follow up implementation of the new rules and then report to Interior Minister Prince Naif, who is chairman of the Manpower Council.
“There are clear instructions from King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, to provide the best job opportunities to Saudis,” the minister said and noted the recent decision to confirm more than 80,000 teachers — who were appointed temporarily — in their present jobs.
The Cabinet meeting also approved the Arab League Charter’s attachment on holding annual Arab summits.
