Bad News for Indians Seeking Jobs in Saudi Arabia: Regulations Have Changed
Saudi Arabia has made a significant decision by introducing a quota for its citizens in private sector engineering jobs. The Kingdom has implemented a 25% reservation for Saudi citizens in private engineering positions.
This new policy went into effect starting Sunday. The primary aim of this decision is to provide more job opportunities for Saudi nationals. Under this initiative by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, it is anticipated that the number of Saudi citizens in the engineering sector will increase.
Saudi Press Agency Comments on New Employment Policy
The Saudi Press Agency stated that “this policy will provide better job opportunities for both Saudi men and women.” The new policy will affect all private sector companies where five or more engineers are employed. Additionally, Saudi officials have warned that companies failing to comply with the regulations will face legal action.
Crown Prince Salman’s Vision 2030
Under Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Salman, the ambitious “Vision 2030” project is driving transformative changes across all sectors in the Kingdom. This initiative includes a significant push towards Saudiization in various fields. Essentially, this means prioritizing Saudi nationals for different job roles.
Under Vision 2030, the Kingdom aims to reduce unemployment to 7%. The plan also involves diversifying Saudi Arabia’s sources of revenue to decrease its reliance on crude oil.
Impact of Saudi Arabia’s New Quota on Indians
The introduction of a reservation system in Saudi Arabia’s private engineering sector will significantly affect Indians, as many Indians migrate to Saudi Arabia each year in search of work. This includes engineers and other skilled and semi-skilled workers.
In 2022, Saudi Arabia reported a fivefold increase in the number of Indians coming to the Kingdom for employment. That year, 178,630 Indians traveled to Saudi Arabia for work. With the new quota system for Saudi citizens in private engineering jobs, opportunities for Indians in this sector are expected to decrease.
