The Chairman of the Insurance Committee at the Alshariqyia Trade and Industry Chamber, Salah Aljabr has confirmed the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency has requested insurance companies send quarterly reports on their activities. This includes showing their commitment in training Saudi nationals. Aljabr added these reports should include details of training policies for managers and employees. Aljabr explained the relevant companies are completing the necessary procedures to complete the full Saudisation of the Vehicle Claims Management Department, Customer Service and Complaint. The deadline to introduce full Saudisation to these sectors is July 2017. Aljabr added the Agency has given companies sufficient time to complete the procedures and confirmed the Saudisation level in these sectors is 100%.

Saudi Arabia’s Labour and Social Development Ministry has announced the deadline for implementing the next stage of the salary protection programme. The Ministry’s official spokesperson, Khalid Aba Alkhail said stages 11 to 16 of the programme targets enterprises employing 11 to 80 employees. The eleventh stage will be implemented in August 2017 and will target enterprises employing 60 to 79 employees. The aim of the programme is to protect salaries and fine enterprises who fail to pay the salaries on time 3000 Riyals. This fine will be multiplied by the number of employees affected.

The Saudi Labour and Social Development Minister Dr Ali Bin Naser Alghaffed has launched a new electronic portal in the Ministry in Riyadh which will act as an official tool that enables civil associations to disclose their information. The undersecretary of the ministry for social development Dr Salem bin Ahmed Aldini said the portal would enable societies and concerned parties to see the basic, demographic, and financial details of civil associations. The aim is to boost transparency and accountability of these associations.

Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers has approved new power regulations to expand the Saudi Water and Electricity Company’s (WEC) remit. The amendments mean WEC, as the Kingdom’s main water buyer, will be able to purchase desalinated, purified, treated and untreated water. The aim is boost water and electricity distribution in the country.

Saudi Arabian Labour and Social Development Ministry sources have said the Ministry is preparing a new system to enable employees to reduce work hours and salaries for a limited time under the Job Share Programme. The aim is to avoid Saudi nationals being dismissed when business is slow. To be able to benefit from the programme, employees should be Saudi nationals who work full-time and have done so for at least three months. Participation will be optional. Work hours and pay should not be reduced by more than 50% and an employee’s salary should not be less than 3000 Riyals after the work hours and pay have been reduced. Employees must not join the programme for more than six months at a time. Businesses should not dismiss employees participating in the programme and should allow employees to work in any other business outside their work hours.

Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers has approved new power regulations to expand the Saudi Water and Electricity Company’s (WEC) remit. The amendments mean WEC, as the Kingdom’s main water buyer, will be able to purchase desalinated, purified, treated and untreated water. The aim is boost water and electricity distribution in the country.