JEDDAH: The Ministry of Civil Affairs has issued guidelines for public employees seeking second jobs, including a list of 45 jobs that these employees are allowed to do.
In listing the types of jobs that public sector employees are allowed to do, the ministry also clarified that it doesn’t consider buying and renting out property or investing in securities as jobs.
The jobs, civil servants have been allowed to do, include trade, working as a mechanic, electrician, machine operator, assistant geo-physician, assistant hydrologist, assistant veterinarian, lab technician, construction worker, painter, whitewasher and plumber. They can also work as imams (prayer leaders) and khateebs (those who deliver Friday sermons), tailors, agricultural technicians, farmers, barbers and cooks.
The ministry insisted that these second jobs should not affect their original work at government departments and agencies. The ministry has already informed all government departments of the rules and regulations to be followed by civil servants when they engage in any other jobs after their working hours.
The ministry gave this concession to Saudi government employees in order to meet job requirements of the private sector and improve the standard of living of civil servants. Government university staff members are allowed to work as consultants in private companies in his/her area of specialization. However, they should not work as consultants in more than one company.
“The maximum allowed period for doing such consultancy work is one year, which can be renewed with the approval of the minister of higher education,” the source said.
He said Saudi doctors working in government hospitals and institutions are now allowed to take second job in the private sector. However, they are allowed to work in business centers under their government institutions.
The ministry’s move aims at helping low-paid government employees make extra money. It will also reduce dependence on foreign workers, who account for more than 25 percent of the Kingdom’s population.
According to the latest statistics provided by the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the total number of Saudi work force reached 4.078 million by February 2008 and included 3.42 million men and 656,972 women. Among them 3.68 million Saudis, including 3.19 million men and 493,183 women, were employed. The number of unemployed Saudis fell from 454,000 to 400,000.
