The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has issued decisions to localise 3 important professions before the end of this year. This means that, in these sectors, the government will try to ensure the workforce consists out of Saudi citizens mostly, rather than relying mostly on foreign migrant workers as has been done for decades.
According to Saudi Al Arabiya TV, the three chosen professions are project management, procurement, and the food and drug sector.
The channel quoted the minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Ahmed bin Suleiman Al-Rajhi, as saying that “the Saudization decisions for sectors, activities and professions contributed to the increase in the number of Saudis working in the private sector to more than 2.13 million male and female citizens.”
He affirmed that the move would reduce the unemployment rate of Saudis to 9.7%. Recently, international reports had reported on the high unemployment rates among Saudis, contrary to what the Saudi government announced before.
The sources affirmed that the step also came within the framework of the Kingdom’s plans to localise most sectors in the country.
The private sector in Saudi Arabia is grumbling because of the government’s insistence on ensuring Saudi workers, instead of expatriate workers, which has led to a decline in performance and production rates in the private sector, according to Saudi businessmen and financiers.
In October, the Saudi minister announced the issuance of a decision to localise the consulting sector and professions, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance.