Saudi Laws Update

Saudi Cabinet approves national policy to prevent child labor Saudi Gazette report RIYADH —  The minimum age for employment in Saudi Arabia is 15 years, according to a provision in the National Policy to Prevent Child Labor in the Kingdom approved by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday. The approval of the policy, which aims to provide a safe environment for all children, is consistent with the Kingdom’s international obligations under the International Labor Organization Conventions No. 138 and 182. The Cabinet also endorsed the National Action Plan to Prevent Child Labor in the Kingdom. Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi, who is also the chairman of the Family Affairs Council, appreciated the Cabinet’s decision to adopt the National Policy for Preventing Child Labor, saying that this policy aims to provide a safe environment that supports childhood and a society where children enjoy all of their rights guaranteed by the Islamic Shariah and the legis...

Al-Rajhi announces Saudization in malls; creation of 51,000 new jobs Okaz/Saudi Gazette RIYADH —  Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi announced the Saudization of most jobs in closed commercial complexes (malls). Al-Rajhi issued three ministerial decisions to Saudize a number of activities and professions in the labor market that aim to create 51,000 jobs for Saudis. The first decision is limiting jobs to Saudis in all activities and professions in malls as well as at mall management offices, excluding a limited number of activities and professions. The second decision is to increase the rate of Saudization in the sales outlets of restaurants and cafes in accordance with their classifications and required percentages specified in the procedural guide issued in this regard. The third decision involves increasing the Saudization rates in the major central supply market outlets in accordance with their classifications, professions, and the required p...

 Only Saudis can work in Kingdom’s malls under new rules ARAB NEWS, April 07, 2021 Human Resources and Social Development Minister Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi said changes would mean jobs for 51,000 Saudi men and women Gulf governments are extending localization programs across industries that have in the past relied heavily on expatriates RIYADH: The Kingdom’s shopping malls must only hire Saudis under new labor rules. Human Resources and Social Development Minister Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi issued three new labor directives that are set to transform the country’s retail and restaurant sector. The changes would mean jobs for 51,000 Saudi men and women, he said in a statement. Gulf governments, under pressure to provide more jobs for citizens amid declining oil revenues, are extending localization programs across industries that have in the past relied heavily on expatriates. The first directive stipulated that only Saudis would be able to work in “closed commercial complexes (ma...

Saudi Commerce Ministry warns shoppers against online scams April 1, 2021, Arabnews The ministry urges consumers to only deal with trusted stores, and not to respond to social media that promotes unknown and unreliable foreign websites. Efforts continue to track and block unknown and unreliable links to protect consumers JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has recently become the target of online fraudsters and scammers whose fake logos impersonate government entities in an attempt to lure not only naive online shoppers but experienced ones. The Saudi Ministry of Commerce renewed its warning to consumers against shopping with unknown and unreliable foreign electronic stores. It said that monitoring and follow-up operations had led to group of websites belonging to a Chinese store, which was blocked earlier, in addition to 184 links to sites with different names. The ministry confirmed that it is continuing its efforts to track and block these links to protect consumers in coordination with the compet...

  Saudi Central Bank grants licenses to 2 more payment companies RIYADH — The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announced the licensing of two payment companies as part of its efforts to achieve the objectives of the financial sector development program, which is one of the pillars of the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision. The new licenses have been granted to International Digital Solutions Company to provide electronic wallet service (electronic transfer and payment service) and Azm Fintech Company to provide payment services through (SADAD Bill Aggregation Services). This brings the total number of payments companies licensed by SAMA to 13 companies, in addition to two payments companies obtaining initial approval. This step comes from the central bank's supportive role to empower the financial technology sector by allowing the entry of new activities to strengthen and support the sector, and to attract a new segment of investors and companies to work under its supervision in a manner that ensures ...

MoJ enables corporate accounts on its Najiz.sa portal Ministry of Justice headquarters in Riyadh. March 23, 2021, Saudi Gazette RIYADH — The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched “corporate accounts" feature on its Najiz.sa portal, aiming to enable enterprises to receive legal services in a swift and efficient manner. “The service allows the main corporate representative to activate the corporate account, so that the account can be managed through Najiz verified by National Single Sign-On,” the ministry said. “It allows the management of the entity’s legal affairs, such as litigation inquiries and enforcement applications filed by or against the entity.” “Accounts of limited liability companies are automatically activated through digital integration with the Ministry of Commerce,” the MoJ added. “Accounts of other corporations are activated through the national enterprise number, and the legal representative stated in the memorandum of association is automatically authorized.” Th...

എൻ്റെ കോവിഡ് 19 വാക്‌സിനേഷൻ അനുഭവം കോവിഡ് വാക്‌സിൻ എടുക്കണോ ? ഇപ്പോൾ തന്നെ  എടുക്കണോ അതോ വേണ്ടേ? കുറച്ചു കൂടി കാത്തിരുന്നിട്ടു പോരെ? വല്ലാത്ത ഒരു ആശങ്ക ആയിരിക്കുന്നു. ഗവണ്മെന്റ് ആണെങ്കിൽ എല്ലാവരും വാക്‌സിനേഷൻ ചെയണം എന്ന് അന്നൗൺസ്‌മെന്റ് ചെയ്തുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കുന്ന്‌. എൻ്റെ പേടി എന്തായിരിക്കും സൈഡ് എഫ്ഫക്റ്റ് എന്നതായിരുന്നു. അതിനിടിയിൽ പരിചയമുള്ള പലരും വാക്‌സിനേഷൻ എടുത്തു അവരുടെ അനുഭവങ്ങൾ പങ്കു വെക്കുന്നത് പത്രത്തിലും വാട്ടസ്ആപ്പിലൂടെയും ഒക്കെ വായിച്ചു. കൂടാതെ വിമാന യാത്രക്ക് വാക്‌സിനേഷൻ പ്രിയോറിറ്റി ആകും എന്ന ന്യൂസും കണ്ടു. നാട്ടിൽ പലരും എടുത്തതായി അറിഞ്ഞു. പിന്നെ ആലോചിച്ചപ്പോൾ എന്തിനു പേടിക്കണം ഒരു ഗവണ്മെന്റ്ഉം ആ രാജ്യത്തെ ജനങ്ങൾക് പ്രശ്നനം ഉണ്ടാകുന്ന കാര്യം ചെയുമോ പ്രതേകിച്ചും വാക്‌സിനേഷൻ കാര്യത്തിൽ എന്തെങ്കിലും സീരിയസ് സൈഡ് എഫ്ഫക്റ്റ് മറ്റോ ഉണ്ടായാൽ ആ രാജ്യം വലിയ പ്രതിസന്ധിയിലേക്ക് പോകില്ലേ? സൗദി പോലുള്ള ഒരു രാജ്യത്തു എല്ലാവിദ ക്വാളിറ്റി കോൺട്രോളും നടത്തി ആയിരിക്കുമല്ലോ വാക്‌സിൻ തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്തിട്ടുണ്ടാകുക. ഏതായാലും നമ്മുടെ രാജ്യമായ ഇന്ത്യയേക്കാൾ മനുഷ്യരുടെ ജീവനും ആരോഗ്യത്തിനും അവരുടെ ...