HRSD seeks public input on changes to regs for work permit, visa allocation

Logo of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD)

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) is seeking public opinion on amending the executive regulations of the Labor Law regarding the allocation of work permits and visas.

The poll runs until July 3 on the Istitlaa public consultation platform.

The draft amendments, according to the ministry, are aimed at enabling specific cadres from various sectors. This is to attain optimal balance in the labor market, attract and retain highly-skilled foreigners, while maintaining the smooth recruitment of those with basic skills.

They are mainly based on classifying work permits and visas into categories based on employee qualifications to achieve the above objectives, divided into highly skilled, skilled, and basic.

Each category is classified in accordance with the eligibility criteria and controls that relate to the profession classification, as per the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations and the gross salary, in addition to other standards for some categories.