SAUDIS TO EXPEL JEWEL INDUSTRY FOREIGN WORKERS
By: Steve Sawyer | Source: The Media Line
February 23, 2004 12:56PM EST
As part of a large-scale program to increase internal employment, Saudi Arabia was scheduled to expel 25,000 foreign workers from the country’s jewelry shops, according to news reports.
Though the extended deadline imposed by the government was Saturday, inspectors were reportedly not present and business went on as usual.
The ‘Saudization’ program was launched last year to decrease the foreign worker population of the Persian Gulf monarchy from 70 percent to 20% by 2013. The plan aims to jumpstart Saudi Arabia’s economy and decrease its elevated rate of unemployment.
For the recently-targeted jewelry industry, foreign workers were to be warned twice before being deported.
Most workers in the jewelry industry are reportedly from India or neighboring Yemen.
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