Saudi to limit work permits to help locals
May 30th 2011, 5:10 pm
#1
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Saudi to limit work permits to help locals
RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will not renew the work permits of foreign workers who have spent six years in the country as part of its plan to create jobs for nationals, its labour minister was quoted as saying on Monday.
"The current situation calls for strong cooperation between the government and private sector in solving the problem of unemployment with hundreds of thousands looking for work," Adil Fakieh was quoted as saying by the pan-Arab newspaper al-Hayat.
Fakieh did not say when the decision would be implemented or whether it would be applied to all foreign workers or to specific jobs.
Unemployment among nationals in the kingdom, which sits on more than a fifth of global oil reserves and is the world's biggest oil exporter, is currently 10.5 percent, he said, adding that 28 percent of the unemployed were women and 40 percent high school graduates.
Fakieh said there were currently eight million foreign workers in the kingdom of whom six million work in the private sector. Remittances from foreign workers total 100 billion riyals ($27 billion) a year, he said.
http://en.news.maktoob.com/200900007...er/Article.htm
"The current situation calls for strong cooperation between the government and private sector in solving the problem of unemployment with hundreds of thousands looking for work," Adil Fakieh was quoted as saying by the pan-Arab newspaper al-Hayat.
Fakieh did not say when the decision would be implemented or whether it would be applied to all foreign workers or to specific jobs.
Unemployment among nationals in the kingdom, which sits on more than a fifth of global oil reserves and is the world's biggest oil exporter, is currently 10.5 percent, he said, adding that 28 percent of the unemployed were women and 40 percent high school graduates.
Fakieh said there were currently eight million foreign workers in the kingdom of whom six million work in the private sector. Remittances from foreign workers total 100 billion riyals ($27 billion) a year, he said.
http://en.news.maktoob.com/200900007...er/Article.htm
May 30th 2011, 5:26 pm
#2
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Re: Saudi to limit work permits to help locals
RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will not renew the work permits of foreign workers who have spent six years in the country as part of its plan to create jobs for nationals, its labour minister was quoted as saying on Monday.
"The current situation calls for strong cooperation between the government and private sector in solving the problem of unemployment with hundreds of thousands looking for work," Adil Fakieh was quoted as saying by the pan-Arab newspaper al-Hayat.
Fakieh did not say when the decision would be implemented or whether it would be applied to all foreign workers or to specific jobs.
Unemployment among nationals in the kingdom, which sits on more than a fifth of global oil reserves and is the world's biggest oil exporter, is currently 10.5 percent, he said, adding that 28 percent of the unemployed were women and 40 percent high school graduates.
Fakieh said there were currently eight million foreign workers in the kingdom of whom six million work in the private sector. Remittances from foreign workers total 100 billion riyals ($27 billion) a year, he said.
http://en.news.maktoob.com/200900007...er/Article.htm
"The current situation calls for strong cooperation between the government and private sector in solving the problem of unemployment with hundreds of thousands looking for work," Adil Fakieh was quoted as saying by the pan-Arab newspaper al-Hayat.
Fakieh did not say when the decision would be implemented or whether it would be applied to all foreign workers or to specific jobs.
Unemployment among nationals in the kingdom, which sits on more than a fifth of global oil reserves and is the world's biggest oil exporter, is currently 10.5 percent, he said, adding that 28 percent of the unemployed were women and 40 percent high school graduates.
Fakieh said there were currently eight million foreign workers in the kingdom of whom six million work in the private sector. Remittances from foreign workers total 100 billion riyals ($27 billion) a year, he said.
http://en.news.maktoob.com/200900007...er/Article.htm
May 31st 2011, 5:09 am
#3
**** it we'll do it live
Joined: Oct 2004
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Posts: 7,892
Re: Saudi to limit work permits to help locals
They do this every couple of years then realise in 6 months that the new power stations, petrochemical plants, airport upgrades, new schools and universities etc etc etc are at a standstill because they don't have anyone who can build, operate or maintain them.
Same shit new **** nugget saying it
Same shit new **** nugget saying it
May 31st 2011, 6:15 am
#4
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Re: Saudi to limit work permits to help locals
According to my Saudi HR boss, this would only be applied to companys who have failed to meet their Saudisation targets. Those who have met the targets shouldn't have a problem.
May 31st 2011, 7:22 am
#5
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Re: Saudi to limit work permits to help locals
Now this shouldn't be too bad, but some of the sectors are ridiculous. My company is in the retail sector, but so is personal banking which has a saudisation percentage well over 70%. so people are officially shitting themselves and lobbying for a change in the way the rules are implemented...
May 31st 2011, 7:52 am
#6
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Re: Saudi to limit work permits to help locals
Would this be retrospective?
In other words, does it only apply to new recruits (who will be there for six years, max) or is someone with, say, five years experience going to be job hunting one year from now?
In other words, does it only apply to new recruits (who will be there for six years, max) or is someone with, say, five years experience going to be job hunting one year from now?
May 31st 2011, 8:44 am
#7
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Re: Saudi to limit work permits to help locals
I don't know, but I like your new 'status'.
May 31st 2011, 8:59 am
#8
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Re: Saudi to limit work permits to help locals
in typical saudi style this of course will not be clear and therefore left up to the local chamber of commerce (or whoever) to interpret. and so the chaos starts..
May 31st 2011, 10:10 am
#9
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Re: Saudi to limit work permits to help locals
Chamber of Commerce in Damman / Al-Khobar running a conference today. Couldn't tell you earlier coz only just found out, but no doubt they'll be doing more...
May 31st 2011, 12:14 pm
#10
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Re: Saudi to limit work permits to help locals
Further clarification from MoL
The Ministry of Labor on Monday clarified press reports that quoted Labor Minister Adel Fakieh as saying that the government would not renew iqamas of expatriates who have completed six years in the Kingdom.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article442386.ece
Some say the underlying reason for not renewing Iqama is more than just the unemployment issue. They are more concerned with the pressure imposed by Human Right Group to provide Saudi nationality to those who have been here for a long time, particularly those from the neighboring countries. This has some merit, I think.
The Ministry of Labor on Monday clarified press reports that quoted Labor Minister Adel Fakieh as saying that the government would not renew iqamas of expatriates who have completed six years in the Kingdom.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article442386.ece
Some say the underlying reason for not renewing Iqama is more than just the unemployment issue. They are more concerned with the pressure imposed by Human Right Group to provide Saudi nationality to those who have been here for a long time, particularly those from the neighboring countries. This has some merit, I think.
May 31st 2011, 12:25 pm
#11
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Re: Saudi to limit work permits to help locals
If you can last 6 years in this hell hole then you deserve to stay I think. Personally there is just no way I will stay long enough for this to be an issue..
May 31st 2011, 2:24 pm
#12
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Re: Saudi to limit work permits to help locals
I'm six years in December. Whoopee!
May 31st 2011, 8:57 pm
#14
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Re: Saudi to limit work permits to help locals
Reading the above replies, it seems like expats can only work for 6 years max. So this will undoubtedly turn off a lot of expats from 1st world countries from going there? Unless one can make huge amount of money in the short period.
Jun 1st 2011, 9:46 am
#15
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Re: Saudi to limit work permits to help locals
Do many expats from 1st world countries seriously intend to spend more than six years in Saudi Arabia?