Saudization to begin in 3 key sectors from November 9

Saudi Arabia - The Ministry of Labor and Social Development will start implementing Saudization in three key sectors from Nov. 9 (Rabi Al-Awwal 1).

According to the ministry’s directives, 70 percent of jobs in electrical and electronics shops, watch shops and optical stores, will be nationalized in the second phase of Saudization of 12 major sectors.

Male and female inspectors from the ministry will start raids on these shops and punitive measures will be taken against the violators of the regulations.

In the first phase, the ministry started implementing 70 percent Saudization in car and motorbike showrooms, shops selling ready-made garments for men and children, home and office furniture shops, and shops selling kitchenware effective from Sept. 11 (Muharram 1).

The third phase of Saudization will start from Jan. 7, 2019 (Jamad Al-Awwal 1). This will cover medical equipment stores, outlets selling all types of carpets, building material shops, outlets selling car spare parts and pastry shops.

Meanwhile, the Human Resources Development Fund (HADAF) has transformed its branches across the Kingdom into employment centers to support Saudi jobseekers. Khaled Abalkhail, spokesman of the fund, said that as many as 22 branches of HADAF in various cities and regions of the Kingdom have been transformed into specialized centers to support job seekers take up jobs in the private sector.

He also unveiled plans to establish three mobile branches soon to provide specialized job orientation courses and qualitative consultancy services for job seekers.