The Nitaqat program was instrumental in reducing unemployment rates among Saudis from 12.4 percent to 11.7 percent in the third quarter of 2013, said Labor Minister Adel Fakeih.

“Unemployment among Saudi men has been cut down to 6.1 percent and among women to 33.2 percent,” he told businessmen and businesswomen at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday.

He said that Nitaqat led to more than a million Saudis getting their salaries raised by SR3,000 and more. “The number of Saudis receiving salaries less than SR3,000 has been reduced from 356,806 to 109,654,” he said, adding that 1.34 million Saudis now receive a salary of SR3,000 or more.

The minister said that the number of Saudis employed in the private sector rose to 723,352. Employment of Saudis helped 87 percent of firms to find their place in green and platinum categories.

“The firms in Red have been reduced to 6 percent and those in Yellow to 7 percent,” he said.

Speaking about the correction process, Fakeih said it helped 2.74 million foreigners to transfer their services to new companies, 4.7 million expats to renew their resident permits and 2.58 million to change their professions.

“More than one million undocumented and illegal workers have been deported, according to the Interior Ministry,” he said.

Fakeih emphasized the importance of dialogue with businessmen and businesswomen, adding that it helped the ministry to learn many things and make better and informed decisions.

He said the ministry would soon introduce new programs to solve problems being faced by businesses across the Kingdom. “We have provided 27 solutions for the three main challenges, from which 14 will be implemented soon and three will be implemented in two months, while 10 solutions will be implemented after soliciting public opinion.”