The Ministry of Labor is expected to pass a new law that will limit the number of ads that target expats in a bid to strengthen nationalization efforts. “The Labor Ministry is strict in monitoring employment adverts placed on social media websites for non-Saudis,” said Abdullah Abu Thnain, undersecretary for inspections and work environment development.

The program will reorganize job ads on a private sector job portal.

“Recruitment applications will only be advertized again for expats if no Saudi citizens apply,” he said.

“Companies found guilty of advertising jobs for expats without proving that there are no Saudis to occupy these positions will be prosecuted.” “The ministry has launched an electronic portal and a smartphone application to report such violations,” he said.

The move is expected to drastically reduce the recruitment of cheap labor, who occupy more than 42 percent of the huge Saudi market, according to a recent study.

The ministry is also supervising a program that updates recruitment mechanisms.