Bahrain Mirror: The Saudi Ministry of Labour and Social Development (MLSD) has announced a new list of jobs and activities that will be limited to Saudi citizens in the kingdom starting from September this year.

"The Minister of Labour and Social Development has issued a decision to restrict work in 12 activities and occupations to Saudi men and women at the beginning of next Hijri year; to enable their employment in the private sector," Khaled Abalkhail, the official spokesperson for the ministry said in a statement posted in Arabic on the ministry's website.

From September 11 this year, sales jobs will be nationalised in four categories: cars & motorcycles; ready-made garments, children's clothes & men's accessories; home and office furniture; and home kitchenware.

From November 9, the rules will be extended to the sale of: electronics and electric appliances; watches; and eyewear. Finally, from January 7, 2019, the rules will be extended to the sale of medical equipment & appliances; building & construction materials; car spare parts shops; carpet and floorcovering stores; and finally sweet shops.

The statement issued on the MLSD's website said that a committee would be formed to develop a programme to nationalise jobs in these industries, with committee members drawn from the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, the Human Resources Fund (Hadaf) and the Social Development Bank.

The latest official statistics show that the total Saudi unemployment rate in the third quarter of 2017 remained unchanged from the previous quarter, at 12.8 percent. The unemployment rate among Saudi women seeking work was 32.7 percent in the third quarter of 2017, while the unemployment rate among Saudi men was 7.4 percent.

Arabic Version