23,000 inspection rounds target gold and jewelry sector in 2018, uncovering 984 violations

The Ministry of Labor and Social Development (MLSD) said on Tuesday the labor inspectors have conducted 23,457 rounds on commercial centers and stores in various regions of the Kingdom since 2018 to make sure employers comply with the decision aiming to nationalize the gold and jewelry sector, which is in cooperation with several government entities. Khaled, spokesman at MLSD, said the inspection campaigns have uncovered 984 violations across the Kingdom, including 786 violations related to failure to employ Saudi nationals and 198 violations related to other labor issues. During the crackdown, the inspection campaigns uncovered 22,371 establishments which comply with the decision compared to 1,104 failing to do so, Abalkhail added. In this respect, the spokesman called upon customers to report violations or submit inquiries related to the enforcement of the decision through contacting the contact center 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 MLSD, 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.