The Ministry of Labor will start penalizing companies that have failed to comply with the country's Saudization or Nitaqat System from the beginning of the new Hijra year (end of November). This means that companies falling into the red zone, the lowest level in the Nitaqat System, will not be able to get visas for new workers or have current workers' visas renewed, said Hattab Bin Saleh Al-Anezi, ministry spokesman. Al-Anezi emphasized that the ministry still wants to help companies falling into the red and yellow zones to improve their status. He said that the grace period for companies falling into the red zone expires at the end of the current lunar month of Dhul Hijjah; while the yellow zone firms must comply by the end of Rabi Al-Thani, (next April). He said that during September the ministry granted the excellent and green zone companies eight incentives including granting them new visas with open professions on condition they maintain their status under the Nitaqat System. These companies were given the privilege of changing the professions of their workers, with the exception of the professions excluded by the Council of Ministers, which includes personnel officials, receptionists, expediters (mu'aqqib), government representatives, cashiers and civil security guards. Another privilege accorded to them is that they can transfer workers to their companies and change their professions simultaneously. Firms falling into the excellent zone are not allowed to apply for transfer of workers more than once every two months.
