Cell phone industry to be Saudized in 6 months

Labor Minister Mufrej Al-Haqabani has ordered that Saudis be employed in the entire mobile phone industry, covering sales, maintenance and accessories by Sept. 2.
The decision will be implemented in cooperation with the ministries of commerce and industry, municipal and rural affairs and communications and information technology, the ministry stated, according to a local publication on Tuesday.
It followed notices sent to companies and employees in the industry telling them to have 50 percent Saudi employees in three months and 100 percent in six months, ending on Sept. 2 this year, the report stated.
The aim is to create jobs for Saudi men and women that would give them financial stability and minimize cover-up activities. The decision must be enforced across the country and include small, medium and large businesses, the ministry stated.
The ministry stated that it would work with the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), General Organization for Social Insurance, and other agencies.
It added that it was cooperating with various ministries to design training programs for Saudis in customer service, maintenance and entrepreneurship. The HRDF will provide employment support services to enterprises and job seekers in the telecommunications industry, which would be accessible at www.taqat.sa. There would also be support provided in paying part of the salaries of Saudis employed.
The ministry has warned that violators, particularly those businesspeople and their employees involved in cover-up businesses, would be subject to heavy penalties.
Source :Arab News