The First National Co. for Labor Import, Manpower Company (Manco), Your Company for Labor Import, The Sharqiah Manpower Co., Waqt Al-Fareeq Co., Ayadi Al-Tanmiya Co and the United Manpower Co. (under processing) are the new companies to get preliminary approval.

The ministry had issued licenses for three companies earlier.

However, the ministry stipulated that these companies were not to undertake labor supply operations until they were granted the final license which would be issued only after the companies completed all procedures.

Deputy Minister of Labor Mufrij Al-Haqabani said the aim of bringing manpower supply under licensed companies was to encourage healthy competition and to increase the efficiency of labor recruitment.

“The ministry expects the new companies to offer a quality service in a professional manner,” Al-Haqabani said.

He also said the companies should complete all formalities to obtain the final license in 60 days after the issue of preliminary approval.

The ministry had earlier issued the statutes governing the establishment of labor import companies.

The ministry decided to permit the entry of large companies with a minimum investment of SR50 million because it wanted to regulate the labor supply market and guarantee that the employers get professionally and academically qualified workers, Al-Haqabani said.