NITAQAT Policy to Defer By 3 Months

8 April 2013
Thiruvananthapuram

The State Government on Sunday welcomed the Saudi authorities’ decision to defer for three months the implementation of ‘nitaqat’, the kingdom’s new work policy that seeks to reserve a percentage of jobs for locals.

“The government of Kerala welcomes the Saudi government’s decision to relax ‘nitaqat’ for three months. The government had asked for an amnesty of six months for expatriate workers. However, the decision to defer implementation of the naturalisation law shows the consideration Saudi government has shown to Kerala’s demands,’’ Minister for Non-Resident Keralites’ Affairs K C Joseph said.

‘Nitaqat’ insists that business concerns in Saudi Arabia reserve a certain percentage of their workforce to Saudis – depending on the size of the enterprise. Though business enterprises employing under 10 workers are exempt, those with up to 49 employees will have to reserve 10 per cent of the jobs for Saudis.Non-renewal of work permits will also lead to cancellation of residential permits, making expatriate workers illegal residents. They will then have to leave the country. The move, if implemented, is likely to affect at least 20 lakh expatriate workers, the largest chunk being Indians.

Source – http://newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article1535696.ece

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