The validity period of employment visas issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development (MLSD) in the Kingdom for private sector firms has gone from two years to one.

Local media Saudi Gazette reported that this decision was based on Article 11 of the Labor Law in Saudi Arabia, that allows the minister to take effective measures needed to improve the productivity of the employment market. 

But this won’t apply for certain types of visas.. 

Such as people in government services and domestic workers, according to an order issued by Minister of Labor and Social Development Dr. Ali Al- Ghafis. 

No time is gone to waste as the ministry has already started implementing Dr. Ali Al Ghafi’s deicison. 

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The minister also ordered that foreign mothers of Saudi  and non-Saudi children of Saudi women be allowed to work in jobs that was once only allowed for Saudi nationals 

So now, hiring anyone from those categories will be counted as ONE Saudi employee and will be a part of the calculations for the percentage of Nitaqat Saudization program. 

Many locals and expats rejoice with this news, with one media person Mohammed Al-Owain calling it a ‘right decision’, Saudi Press Agency reports.