The latest criticism of the Nitaqat Program has come from operation and maintenance contractors in the construction industry, who say it is impossible for them to employ enough Saudis to stay out of the Red Zone, reported Al-Watan Arabic daily. The contractors, mostly small and medium-sized business owners, say that they cannot meet the Saudization quota required to make it into the Green Zone. This will compel many of them to close down. The contractors' Operation and Maintenance Committee at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has discussed this issue and will table it for further talks at its eighth periodic meeting. Eng. Fahd Al-Naisaiban, Chairman of the committee, said: “The insistence that there should be a minimum seven percent Saudization will force many companies to quit the industry.” If this happens the Saudi economy will lose a major source of income, he added. Al-Naisaiban said the quota does not reflect the reality on the ground. He said it was impossible to implement some of the Ministry of Labor's criteria. He said many companies lay off Saudi workers once a government contract has been completed. When this happens, the companies will fall into the Red Zone until they can get a new contract.
