Saudi Arabia to tighten curbs on foreign workers in local jobs push
Saudi Arabia is reportedly planning to tighten restrictions on foreign workers to pressure companies into hiring more Saudi citizens and reduce unemployment among Saudis, according to government sources. The policy has been approved by Minister of Labor, Ali bin Nasser al-Ghafis, and is scheduled to take effect on 3 September, according to the sources. The new policy could help the Kingdom achieve its target to ease joblessness among Saudis from the current 12.1% to 9% by 2020, but it will make it harder for firms to employ low-paid foreign workers, thereby raising costs; thus, adding hurdles against private sector development. The Kingdom employs c12mn foreigners, and two-thirds of Saudi workers are employed by the public sector.
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