Saudi nationals allowed to run gold and jewelry business: MLSD

The Ministry of Labor and Social Development (MLSD) announced that Saudi nationals can pursue career and investment in the gold and jewelry sector following the enforcement of the nationalization decision on Sunday, which is in a bid to activate the nationalization program that targets various regions in the Kingdom.

The move is in partnership with the MLSD, the Ministry of Interior, the governorates of regions, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce and Investment, the Public Security and the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat), which comes as part of the previously-issued nationalization decisions aiming to generate job opportunities for Saudi nationals.

MLSD spokesman Khaled Abalkhail emphasized the ministry’s inspection team which is in cooperation with the concerned entities are implementing inspection rounds on malls and shopping centers in various regions of the Kingdom to check everyone comply with the nationalization of the gold and jewelry industry and detect violations.

Abalkhail also urged customers to cooperate with the ministry and report violations relating to the nationalization and Labor Law through the ‘Ma3an Lil Rasd’ website or the unified customer service no. (19911), reassuring all reports would be dealt with a prompt respond as the ministry is keen to improve, develop and regulate the environment of the labor market.

Meanwhile, the regional nationalization program aims to prepare plans and mechanisms that nationalize occupations in the economic sectors and activities with relying on capabilities of each region, as well as implementing the previously-issued nationalization decisions and programs.

The program strives to empower the Saudi young people to seize job opportunities, enhance integration among all government and private entities to carry out specific nationalization plans, find a decent and appropriate work environment and lay out incentives that encourage the business sector to nationalize available jobs in the region.

It attempts to find suitable mechanisms that develop and enhance capabilities, knowledge and skills of the workforce and prepare Saudi nationals through training programs which are in partnership with specialized entities.

The ministry said it was agreed on activating the joint work in terms of implementing the nationalization program that target labor sectors in the regions, as well as overseeing their implementation and activating inspection and nationalization efforts.

Additionally, the ministry said the nationalization program guide has been approved to support and enhance efforts made by the participating entities with the aim of increasing productive nationalization rates.

MLSD said the field committees are tasked to implement and monitor the inspection plan for the enforcement of the nationalization program in the region, as well as launching morning and evening inspection rounds that cover the activities taking place in the specific geographical scope.

The committees are also assigned to prepare timetables for priority sectors in order to intensify field inspection efforts and send reports to the governorate of region, as well as detecting violations if employers fail to comply with the nationalization decisions, the ministry explained further.