Saudi Arabia announced new measures to prevent migrants from practicing a number of professions and business activities, and to limit their work to Saudis only, starting from the beginning of the next Hijri year 1440, corresponding to 11 September 2018.
According to a statement issued by the Saudi Ministry of Labour, quoted by Anatolia agency, the decision aims to empowering citizens with employment opportunities, and raise the rates of their participation in the private sector.
According to the ministry, the activities that will be limited to Saudis will include outlets in watches, glasses, medical devices and equipment, as well as selling in the shops of electrical appliances, spare parts, and construction materials.
The new procedure also includes sales in the automotive and motorcycle sector, household and office furniture, ready-made garments, childrens clothing, mens items, household utensils and sweets.
Saudi Arabia aims to what they call the Saudization of jobs by abandoning migrant workers, estimated at millions, to overcome rising unemployment rates among citizens.
According to data released by the General Organization for Statistics in the country, the number of foreign workers in the public and private sectors reached about 10 million and 690 thousand in the third quarter of 2017 compared to 10 million and 790 thousand in the second quarter of the same year, i.e. the exit of about 100 million migrant workers from the Saudi labour market.
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