30-point blueprint for private firms
The Labor Ministry is introducing a 30-point plan to improve the performance and competitiveness of some 1.2 million private sector firms in the Kingdom.
Its key features are payment of wages on time, excellent working conditions and payment of gratuity.
During Ramadan, Muslim workers should not be asked to work more than six hours daily and 36 hours weekly.
A firm should not hold any wage of workers or part of it without a court order, said a ministry official.
Companies having 50 or more workers should train at least 6 percent of Saudi workers.
“The program, which will be launched early next year, aims at intensifying the ministry’s monitoring system for some 1.2 million firms and raise their awareness of labor regulations,” said Abdullah bin Nasser Abuthnain, deputy minister for inspections and development of working atmosphere.
“Foreigners should not be employed without obtaining labor permit and should not employ for a profession that is not mentioned in the permit,” the official explained.
It is the duty of the firm to pay all fees for the recruitment of workers as well as fees for issuing resident permits and work permit and for their renewal and related fines, the fee of changing profession, exit and re-entry visas and for the ticket for a worker to return to home country after the end of contract.
Saudis and expatriates have welcomed the ministry’s move. “It will strengthen the labor market and encourage companies to follow labor regulations,” Badr Almotawa, a Saudi market analyst told Arab News.
“This is a right step taken by the ministry and goes well with its ongoing campaign against iqama and labor rule violators. It will enhance confidence of foreign investors and manpower in the Saudi market,” he added.