JEDDAH, 23 March 2004 — Saudi Arabia yesterday established a separate Ministry of Labor and abolished the Manpower Council. The decision was taken by a Cabinet meeting chaired by Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard.
“The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has been split into two separate ministries: the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Social Affairs,” Culture and Information Minister Fouad Al-Farsy said.
He said the Manpower Council would be absorbed into the Ministry of Labor, which will also deal with labor disputes, employment in the private sector and labor visas.
The labor minister will chair the boards of the General Organization for Social Insurance, the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training and the Manpower Development Fund.
The ministry has an important task ahead in implementing the Kingdom’s intensified campaign for Saudization of the private sector.
The Social Affairs Ministry will take care of social insurance and social care and development. Charities and cooperative societies as well as social research and studies will also come under its jurisdiction.
