DR. GHAZI ALGOSAIBI, MINISTER OF LABOR, STATED TODAY THAT THE MINISTRY OF LABOR'S MAIN JOB IS TO FIGHT UNEMPLOYMENT AND TRAIN, SUPPORT AND RECRUIT ELIGIBLE CITIZENS IN THE SAUDI LABOR MARKET ACCORDING TO THE OBJECTIVES OF DEVELOPMENT PLANS. IN REMARKS FOLLOWING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE NEW BUILDING OF HIS MINISTRY, DR. ALGOSAIBI SAID THE MINISTRY WAS SUCCESSFUL IN ITS FIRST YEAR OF INCEPTION AFTER BEING SEPARATED FROM THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS, TO REDUCE LABOR VISAS TO 250,000 AND TO 70,000 IN THE SECOND YEAR. BUT THIS YEAR IT COULD NOT FURTHER REDUCE THE NUMBER DUE TO THE VAST DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTS IN THE KINGDOM, HE SAID, CITING THE ISSUANCE OF 560,000 LABOR VISAS OVER THE LAST NINE MONTHS AND 225,000 FOR HOME HELPERS. THE MINISTER STATED THAT WHENEVER A SAUDI NATIONAL IS SKILLFUL FOR A JOB, IT WOULD NEVER BE OCCUPIED BY A FOREIGNER. HE CAST LIGHT ON THE MINISTRY'S PLAN TO RECRUIT WOMEN. "THE MINISTRY HAS ALREADY OPENED THREE FEMALE EMPLOYMENT OFFICES AND IS CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO CREATE THE SUITABLE LABOR ENVIRONMENT FOR WOMEN TO JOIN THE WOMEN FORCE IN SAUDI ARABIA", THE MINISTER OF LABOR SAID. DR. ALGOSAIBI SAID HIS MINISTRY IS WORKING TO CREATE A MECHANISM TO PROTECT EXPATRIATE LABORERS TO GUARANTEE THEIR RIGHTS.
