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Summary Saudi Arabia will not renew work permits of expatriate workers living there for six years or more.
Saudi Arabias labor minister has said that the kingdom will not renew work permits of expatriate workers who have been in the country for six years or more, a step aimed at boosting job opportunities for Saudis.The pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat on Monday quoted Labor Minister Adel Fekyeh as saying, “unemployment in the kingdom is 10.5 percent”.Unemployment is a main cause behind uprisings in the Arab world, which have largely bypassed Saudi Arabia.Fekyeh said 90 percent of the private sector labor force is foreign, and the countrys 8 million foreign workers send home roughly $26.7 billion a year. It was not clear how many would be affected.Saudi Arabias king has pledged over $80 billion to boost the quality of life for his citizens, including job creation and new housing.
