The Ministry of Civil Service has recruited 9,309 female and male foreigners in jobs that cannot be filled by Saudis and also terminated the employment of 7,116 foreigners, according to a source. The source urged the ministry to recruit more Saudis by getting government agencies to absorb nationals. The source said there are 15,484 vacancies in various government organizations. Of these, 4,323 vacancies are filled by non-Saudis. The source added that the Ministry of Civil Service is seeking authorization to employ Saudis in 11,161 vacant posts. Meanwhile, a nationally-known company has fired 22 Saudis working for it as security guards, 20 of whom are married and the main breadwinners of their families. In its termination letter, the company ordered the Saudi workers to sort out the formalities with its Human Resources Department. Severa terminated workers told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that they could hardly believe they had been fired, especially since it is the last 10 days of Ramadan. They said the company is aware that they support large families. They claimed that the company fired them because of the theft of a number of laptops even though it was not proven who was responsible for the crime. They appealed to the company's officers to reinstate them or transfer them to other branches. An official at the Labor Office in Dammam advised the workers to lodge a complaint if they feel their dismissal was unfair. An investigation will also be launched by the Labor Office, he said. If their dismissal was unfair, then the company would have to reinstate them. If the company refuses to do so then the Ministry of Labor will freeze all services it provides, including recruitment and transfers of sponsorship. __
