DAMMAM: The mobile phone industry in KSA is one of the most promising commercial sectors which provides various job opportunities that do not need a lot of experience or large capital compared to some other business.

Recently, the labor minister ordered that Saudis be employed in the entire mobile phone industry, covering sales, maintenance and accessories to open the door for Saudi youth to enter in this sector.

The decision, which will be implemented in cooperation with the ministries of commerce and industry, municipal and rural affairs and communications and information technology, must be enforced across the country on two levels with the recruitment of 50 percent Saudi employees in the industry in three months, moving towards 100 percent over six months.

Abdullah Abuthnain, an industry expert, said: “This decision is an important national one which needs to be supported by the media, along with other government and private concerned authorities to remove any obstacles preventing its application,” explaining that Saudi Arabia’s Saudization program has previously failed in some sectors due to lack of coordination between government authorities monitoring the initiative.

Abuthnain said that the application of full Saudization in certain sectors is one of the most important strategies carried out by the Ministry of Labor, noting that it has begun with the communications sector for several reasons, including the attractiveness of its market for many Saudis.

He said this sector is expected to provide job opportunities to 30,000 Saudis, explaining that a large percentage of mobile phone, accessory and maintenance shops are cover-up businesses in which a Saudi provides a floor for expatriates to invest. He added that these businesses are expected to leave the market soon.

On the facilities provided by the municipalities toward the Saudization of this activity, Yusuf Al-Saif, a specialist, said that the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs is a key partner with the Ministry of Labor in many plans and projects, confirming that the secretariats and municipalities scattered in the cities and villages of the Kingdom would carry out inspection campaigns on a daily basis to ensure the application of government decisions.

Regarding the role of the Human Resources Development Fund in supporting wages in this sector, Omar Mlibari said: “There would also be support provided in paying part of the salaries of Saudis employed,” stressing that the Ministry of Labor has a thorough study on all professions found in the market to determine the vacancies according to the sequence of the professions.

He also said that the fund will provide employment support and training services to enterprises and job seekers in the telecommunications industry.