RIYADH — The Council of Ministers on Monday gave the Ministry of Labor powers to take appropriate measures for the betterment of the employment market and to regulate the workforce in line with labor laws.
The weekly session of the Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace here, approved amendments in the Labor Law in this regard.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Culture and Information Adel Al-Turaifi said the amendments give authority to the ministry to prevent renewal of work permits if employers violate the job localization criteria.
According to the amendments, work contract should stand terminated in the event of the closure of firm or halting of activity for which the worker was hired.
The amendments also authorize the ministry to give financial remuneration not more than 25 percent of collected fines to those officials who take part in inspections that result in detecting labor law violations.
In another major decision, the Cabinet asked the Council of Economic Affairs and Development to prepare organizational arrangements and mechanism for imposing levy on vacant plots of land within the urban boundaries of cities and provinces.
The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's full support to the legitimacy of the Yemeni government. It also underscored the importance of immediate response of all the political parties in Yemen — which are willing to maintain national security and stability — to take part in the conference which will be held under the umbrella of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh.
While slamming the terrorist attack that targeted the Bardo Museum in Tunis, Al-Turaifi said, the Cabinet stressed the Kingdom's firm stand against terrorism and renewed its call for enhanced international cooperation in fighting this scourge.
