The Saudi labor ministry has issued directives to companies to stop hiring foreign skills for certain jobs in the hospitality industry as the Gulf country embarks on providing jobs for its citizens.
Companies operating resorts, hotels rated three stars or higher, and hotel apartments rated four stars or higher according to the directives, should reserve positions from front-desk jobs to management to Saudis.
The Saudization of jobs also targets restaurant hosts and health club supervisors.
Foreigners according to the ministry can occupy job positions such as drivers, doormen and porters.
The decision will come into force in December this year and the companies that will fail to respect the policy will face penalties according to the applicable regulation.
The kingdom’s job market is dominated by cheap foreign labor.
The hospitality sector is the latest industry to be included in the kingdom’s plans to create jobs for its nationals.
The Gulf country recorded nearly 13 per cent of citizen unemployment last year, Business Standard reports.
