The event was inaugurated by Vikraman Nanu, a veteran financial expert of India.

Addressing a huge Indian gathering that included employees of Nesto Hypermarket, Vikraman said: “It was essential for everyone to understand the new labor laws of the Kingdom.”

He gave detailed information about the Nitaqat system launched by the Saudi government. The Ministry of Labor started implementing the third phase of the new Nitaqat system on Nov. 26. The system aims to improve employment opportunities for Saudis.

This phase involves taking punitive measures against those companies in the “red” category (indicating they are far below their Saudization targets) at the end of a six-month grace period extended to them.

Punitive measures against companies classified in the “yellow” category will be effective from the first day of Rabi Al-Thani next year (Feb. 23) at the end of a nine-month grace period. The grace period was given to the companies to improve their status by hiring more Saudis before they face punitive measures.

Latheef Thechy, chief coordinator of Pleace India, spoke about the aims and objectives of the awareness campaign. Thechy said that the main objective of this program was to clear doubts regarding the Nitaqat system introduced by the government.

The awareness program will be organized in different places to reach as much of the expatriate community as possible.

A large number of workers came to check their company’s status and clear doubts following the implementation of the Nitaqat system.

The workers’ questions were answered and they were also advised on how to check the status of the company and other related details online along with a practical demonstration.

The program concludes on Dec. 25. Similar awareness programs will be organized at other locations in the Kingdom for the benefit of the Indian community. Nesto, which has more than 12 hypermarkets in the Gulf countries, was established in 2004 with a vision of being a conglomerate of department stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets. Nesto has one hypermarket in Riyadh and one in Dammam.

Pleace India is an Indian NGO that provides legal support to Indian expatriates working in the Kingdom.