Private-sector companies in Saudi Arabia that employ more foreigners than nationals are to be fined from today as part of a government bid to get more Saudis into work.
Companies with a majority of foreigners will have to pay 2,400 Saudi riyals (Dh2,350) per year for each additional foreign worker, said the labour ministry.
Concerns have been raised over the cost to businesses of the initiative, given that about 90 per cent of private-sector workers are estimated to be foreign.
"It's an extra financial cost for us as a company and, more broadly, it could be an issue for foreign direct investment," said Asim Siddiqui, the managing director of AGE Group, a steel manufacturing conglomerate that has three plants in Dammam, in the eastern part of the kingdom.
The company has raised the percentage of Saudi nationals in its workforce to about 20 per cent - in compliance with previous targets set by the government.
But Mr Siddiqui has calculated it will still be liable for penalties equivalent to between Dh80,000 and Dh100,000 under the latest scheme.
Many businesses have traditionally opted to hire foreigners as cheaper alternatives to locals.
As a result, the unemployment rate in the kingdom stands at more than 10 per cent.
After protests flared last year, the Saudi government stepped up its efforts to raise employment.
It introduced a quota system, setting a minimum number of local workers companies must employ based on the size and sector of the business. Companies failing to comply face limits on the number of visas they can receive for foreign staff.
"There's a desire to create more jobs for nationals and to try to do that they are looking at giving more disincentives to hire foreigners," said Giyas Gokkent, the chief economist of National Bank of Abu Dhabi.
But it is unclear whether the latest action will apply to companies employing workers in blue-collar jobs.
Saudis in employment traditionally opt for office-based jobs in the government. Most of the manual jobs are filled by Asian workers.
"Manufacturing will struggle to meet the 50 per cent target," said Mr Siddiqui. "Most Saudis we employ are in administrative, sales and accounts. It will be difficult to fill the more labour-intensive jobs."
tarnold@thenational.ae
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
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