The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia has been cracking down on establishments that are not complying with the country’s Labor Law regulations. According to reports, over 107,000 establishments have been found to be in violation of various articles of the law. These violations range from issues related to payment of salaries to the employment of foreigners in jobs reserved for Saudi nationals.
Since the beginning of 2024, ministry teams have conducted inspections on over 700,000 private sector firms in the Kingdom. The goal of these inspections is to regulate and control the labor market and ensure that employers are following the rules set forth in the Labor Law. One of the main areas of concern has been the incorrect payment of wages, with almost 60,000 employers failing to increase salaries as mandated by the ministry.
Apart from salary issues, there were also cases where employees had not received their wages and instances where foreigners were employed in roles that are supposed to be exclusive to Saudi nationals. To address these violations, the ministry has issued over 88,000 warnings to non-compliant establishments. In addition, the ministry has been working to localize jobs and increase employment opportunities for Saudi citizens.
During visits to over 500,000 establishments, the ministry’s teams have been able to identify over 9,000 job opportunities for Saudi nationals. The compliance rate for Saudization in professions has also increased to 93.5 percent. Furthermore, the ministry has conducted over 800 visits to petrol stations and service centers across the Kingdom to ensure compliance with labor regulations.
The ministry’s inspection tours are ongoing in all regions and governorates of the Kingdom. Individuals are encouraged to report any violations they come across by calling the unified number 19911 or by using the ministry’s smartphone application. This effort to enforce the Labor Law regulations is part of the ministry’s ongoing commitment to create a fair and regulated labor market in Saudi Arabia.
In conclusion, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia has been actively working to ensure that establishments in the private sector comply with the country’s Labor Law regulations. Through inspections and monitoring efforts, the ministry has identified over 100,000 non-compliant establishments and issued warnings to rectify the violations. By increasing opportunities for Saudi nationals and enforcing Saudization in professions, the ministry is striving to create a more equitable and controlled labor market in the Kingdom. Individuals are encouraged to report any violations they encounter, as the ministry continues its efforts to regulate the labor market and ensure compliance with the law.
