RIYADH – The ministries of labor and housing on Wednesday signed a memorandum of cooperation to create a strategic partnership to support housing projects in all provinces and governorates of the Kingdom. According to the agreement, the Ministry of Labor will expedite, among other things, procedures for recruiting workers for housing projects in the country. Titled "Labor and Housing", the document was signed at the headquarters of the Ministry of Labor in Riyadh by Labor Minister Mufrej Al-Haqbani and Housing Minister Majed Abdullah Al-Huqail in the presence of senior officials from the two ministries. The agreement is expected to facilitate bureaucratic procedures between the two ministries and create job opportunities for male and female Saudi job seekers. In a speech following the signing, Al-Haqbani said the memorandum follows directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to government departments to work together to achieve the ambitions of young Saudi men and women. This also comes in line with the aspirations of the Economic Affairs and Development Council led by Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman. Al-Haqbani said he "looks forward to this memorandum expediting procedures for developers and contractors working with the Ministry of Housing" and hoped that it would decrease the cost of housing projects. He promised to give all support to the Housing Ministry to fulfill its vision and mission. Al-Huqail said the agreement comprises a number of articles that make it compulsory on every company or firm that has signed a contract with the Housing Ministry to open a branch in the Ministry of Labor. The Ministry of Labor in tandem with the Ministry of Housing will specify the required percentage of Saudization in housing projects. Foreign workers in housing projects will not be allowed to transfer their services to other sectors. Furthermore, a contractor must return the workers to their respective countries once his project is completed according to the deadline set by the Ministry of Housing. The cooperation between the two ministries also makes it compulsory for contractors to train Saudi graduates from universities and vocational institutes in their respective fields of activity. On the recommendation of the Housing Ministry, the Ministry of Labor will simplify procedures for contractors to obtain visas to workers from abroad. The agreement stipulates that any worker who has been issued a permanent or temporary visa to work in housing projects will not be allowed to work in any other project. Any violation detected during inspection tours will result in the cancellation of the visa and deportation of the worker immediately.
