The National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nazaha) says the Labor Ministry has failed to reduce unemployment in the country, and also lambasted the private sector for not hiring Saudis.

The criticism is contained in communications between the Nazaha and the ministry, a local newspaper reported.

In the messages, the Nazaha claimed that visas issued for new foreign workers equaled the number of expatriates who had left the country since the start of the Saudization program.

The Nazaha said it was closely monitoring the unemployment situation and the number of work visas issued.

The Nazaha also said that the private sector “strongly resisted and thwarted” the ministry’s efforts to find jobs for Saudis, the report stated.

It said the private sector can recruit foreign workers easily, pay them low salaries, and let them work long hours under conditions that are mostly unsuitable for Saudi citizens.

The report said the number of recruitment visas increased by 14 percent between 2010 and 2011. In 2009, there was a 22 percent drop in visas issued.

The Labor Ministry “did not fulfill the aspirations” of the employment strategy approved by the Council of Ministers in 2010, the report stated.

The Nazaha also said that the Hafez program had failed to find employment for Saudis, the report stated.

The program, launched in 2011, provides SR2,000 a month for up to one year for every qualifying Saudi jobseeker.