The validity of employment visas issued by the Saudi Ministry of Labor for the private sector has been reduced from two years to one year.
The new regulation will not apply to visas issued for government services or for domestic workers, according to an order issued by the Saudi Minister of Labor, Ali Al-Ghafis.
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The decision was taken on the basis of Article 11 of the Saudi Labor Law under which the minister can take the procedures that are deemed necessary for "improving the efficiency of the employment market."
The ministry has started implementing the decision of the minister, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
On Sunday, the minister issued another order allowing foreign mothers of Saudis as well as children of Saudi women to work in those professions which are restricted to Saudi nationals.
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Employing anyone in this category will be counted as one Saudi employee while calculating the percentage of Nitaqat Saudization program.
Both Saudis and expatriates welcomed the decision.
By Fatima Muhammad
