The Ministry of Labor will continue to fight visa trafficking and illegal employment, said Abdullah Abu Thunain, secretary-general of inspections and work environment.

“The ministry intercepted 20,000 violations related to the country’s labor laws, nationalization schemes and the feminization of women’s stores,” he said.

“The labor market will be regulated over time, but this requires extensive cooperation between companies, government authorities and the Labor Ministry,” he said. “The ministry is developing inspection procedures through the implementation of new programs, including wage protection programs.”

The ministry has increased the number of inspectors, who have undergone extensive training, he said.

Labor Minister Adel Fakeih reiterated that inspection campaigns would continue. “We will have 1,000 inspectors before the end of 2014,” he said. “These inspectors will take an oath after undergoing training on inspection mechanisms.”

More than 100,000 facilities have been inspected since the start of the legalization campaigns, which will continue, he said. “Article 39 of the national labor law has been amended to delegate responsibility to the Interior Ministry. The Labor Ministry, however, remains responsible for addressing violations inside facilities,” the minister said.

More than 130 male and female inspectors took an oath in the presence of the minister after undergoing theoretical and practical training.