RIYADH — An expert committee will be formed to deal with all aspects of implementation of Saudization including the percentage of Saudis in any specific field, penalty on violators and specifying trades that are exclusively for Saudis, the Cabinet has decided. The Cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, also endorsed that Saudi citizens who complete 15 years of age must have an ID card. Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja said the Cabinet reviewed a report from the labor minister with regard to the plan and schedule that contains solutions to address the growing number of unemployed university graduates and holders of health diplomas. The Cabinet then decided to approve the amendment to Paragraph VII of the recommendations approved by it earlier. According to the amendment, one or more committees shall be formed by a decision of the Minister of Labor with at least three specialists, whose mission would be to consider all aspects of implementing Saudization decisions. These include recommending the penalty that should be imposed on the violators, as well as submitting proposals to make changes in the percentage of Saudization. The committee is also tasked with adding and specifying new jobs and professions that are banned for foreigners, in addition to formulating a media plan with regard to implementing Saudization, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture and Information. The Cabinet also amended Article 67 of the Civil Status Law. Accordingly, any Saudi citizen who attains the age of 15 must have a national identification card of his own. Those between the age of 10 and 15 shall have the option to apply for the card if their guardians' consent has been obtained. As for Saudi women, they must have a national identity card in accordance with a gradual phased plan within a period not exceeding seven years. Afterwards, the ID card shall be the only means of their identity verification. Dr. Khoja said the Cabinet approved an amendment to its earlier decision under which a scholarship student who is accompanied by his Saudi wife at the place of his study shall be given an extra payment equal to his basic monthly payment if she does not join the scholarship. The Cabinet expressed satisfaction over the report of the Global Rating Agency Fitch about the Kingdom's economy and its sovereign classification as 'AA -' besides raising its future outlook from stable to positive. The Cabinet noted that the agency reinforced its confidence in the strength of the national economy, its sustainability of growth, and the diversity of its sectors, thanks to the wise policies of the Kingdom under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
