The Ministry of Labor declared that any private organization within low green range of Saudization will not be authorized new visas or transfer of expat workers. This will be final by the beginning of 1436 A.H. Organizations within average green range, or higher, will still benefit from these important services.

The Ministry of Labor relies on the fact that since the application of Nitaqat plan, Saudization increased by 115 percent. This has led to increase in number of Saudis working in private sector to 1.5 million.

The plan was successful, according to officials, because the minimum monthly salary for Saudis was raised to SR3,000 a month.

Labor officials comforted private sector by suggesting they will get support of Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF). This fund is meant to help private sector in hiring Saudis for jobs that used to be occupied by non-saudis.

If the private sector is cooperative enough, by making use of HRDF support, the low green range will be automatically promoted to a higher level. This promotion should allow private sector to issue more expat working visas and to legislate legal transfers.

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The writer is Media Manager, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.

Twitter: @abdullahsayel

Email: [email protected]