Priority for Saudi citizens in IT-related jobs

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi on Monday announced a decision to localize the communication and information technology professions to create 9,000 jobs in the private sector.

The decision will be applicable to all business establishments with five or more workers in communications and IT jobs, application development, programming and analysis and technical support.

The ministry has also set a minimum wage of SR7,000 ($1,866) for specialized jobs and SR5,000 for technical jobs.

The decision is part of a series of measures to localize professions in cooperation and partnership with government and supervisory agencies to enable graduates with specific qualifications to obtain decent employment opportunities in the Kingdom.

It is also intended to ensure a suitable and stimulating work environment in the private sector.

The ministry also issued a procedural guide for the proper implementation of the decision. The guide can be accessed on the ministry’s website.

Last month, the ministry took steps to localize engineering jobs in the Kingdom.