The decision was unanimously taken at the fourth regular meeting of the Shoura Council chaired by Council President Abdullah Al-Asheikh that reviewed the ministry’s annual report.
Comments on the report were tabled by the council's foreign affairs committee at yesterday's session.
Shoura Council Secretary General Muhammed Al-Ghamdi said the house requested the Foreign Ministry not only to supervise the welfare of Saudi citizens living abroad, but also urged the ministry to obtain periodic reports to ensure Saudi citizens were constantly being looked after. The council also called for the implementation of one of its resolutions that includes a provision for Saudi youths to be absorbed into the Kingdom's foreign missions, replacing non-Saudi staff.
A substantial number of non-Saudis work in various Saudi embassies and consulates abroad to help Saudi staff stay updated on local languages, culture and contacts.
The members also requested the Foreign Ministry to accelerate the completion of its electronic link with the Ministry of Interior and its overseas missions to improve their coordination with each other.
Besides a large number of Saudi citizens studying abroad for their higher education, there are many Saudi families currently living in 24 Arab, Islamic, Asian and American countries.
The council also approved a draft agreement on military cooperation between the Kingdom and Jordan.
While discussing the annual report of the Ministry of Labor, the council requested public employment offices to present in detail the number of runaway workers in the Kingdom and the measures taken by the ministry to resolve such problems.
The council also approved the establishment of national recruiting offices throughout the Kingdom and stressed such offices should process foreign visas within a maximum seven days.
On Monday, the Shoura Council will discuss a bill on a military accreditation center. The purpose of the center is to ensure military education programs and courses meet international standards. Graduates of military colleges may enroll in non-military institutions for postgraduate programs.
