JEDDAH: A total of 550 local recruitment offices in the country are objecting to a decision by the ministries of labor and trade to discuss a proposal to set up a new company that would recruit foreigners and then hire them out through contractors. The objection was submitted in a cable to King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. They said Adel Fakieh, the Minister of Labor, had said in a meeting at the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry that the requested project is being studied by the two ministries, and that the recruitment offices will be summoned to discuss the project after completion of the study. “We are surprised at the Ministry of Labor encouraging this encroachment of one activity on another.” They said this would not be helpful to the current organization of the local system. They said they are not allowed under current regulations to carry out contracting. If the two ministries allow contractors to recruit and offer out labor services, this would create “chaos”. It also “violates the spirit of regulations and contravenes the principle of justice”. They said this was not the first time such a proposal has been mooted. It was previously raised under the late minister of labor Ghazi Al-Gosaibi. Objections were also then sent to the King. The cable added that they now want to form companies instead of individual offices to improve service in the interest of the country. “We are waiting for approval to start [setting up] the companies.” The recruitment offices are staffed by Saudis.
