MLSD conducts 14,213 inspection rounds in bid to nationalize gold and jewelry shops, uncovering 96 percent compliance

Spokesman of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development Khaled Abalkhail said labor inspectors conducted 14,213 inspection rounds on shopping centers and stores across the Kingdom to make sure employers comply with the decision aiming to nationalize the gold and jewelry sector, which is in cooperation with several government entities. The spokesman highlighted that 96.5 percent of the visited establishments were law-abiding as the inspection teams detected 535 violations across the Kingdom, adding 66.5 percent and 33.5 percent of the total number of these violations were related to nationalization and other labor issues, respectively. In this respect, the spokesman called upon customers to report violations or submit inquiries related to the decision through contacting the unified customer service No. (19911) or using the ‘Ma3an lil Rasd’ on smart phones. Meanwhile, the nationalization of the gold and jewelry sector comes as part of the nationalization program for regions which is being implemented by the Ministry of Interior, the governorates of regions, the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce and Investment, the Public Security and the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat). It goes hand in hand with other previous nationalization decisions to empower Saudi nationals to find job opportunities. Meanwhile, the nationalization program for regions aims to prepare plans and mechanisms that nationalize occupations in various sectors and economic activities with relying on capabilities of each region, as well as implementing the previously-issued nationalization decisions and programs. It also strives to empower the Saudi young people to seize job opportunities, enhance public-private partnership (PPP) to carry out specific nationalization plans, create a decent and an appropriate work environment and lay out incentives that encourage employers to replace expatriate workers with Saudi nationals in the region.