JEDDAH, Jun 29 (Arab News): The Labor Ministry is working on new rules and regulations aimed at phasing out unskilled foreign workers from the Kingdom and replace them with Saudis, Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper quoted Labor Minister Adel Fakeih as saying on Saturday.

The minister made the statements in a speech at the graduation ceremony of the eighth batch of the Saudi-Japanese Automobile High Institute (SJAHI) in Jeddah. Governor of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation Dr. Ali Al-Ghafees read out the minister’s speech on his behalf.

“It is obvious that the unskilled foreign labor has invaded the country and are being detrimental to the economy of the country and the citizens,” the minister said.

The announcement came as the Saudi authorities are making serious efforts to nationalize the job market by strictly enforcing the Saudization regulations in the private sector.

Fakeih pointed out that it was the responsibility of the ministry to get rid of these unskilled laborers through codification of laws and regulations.

“Within its coming plans, the ministry will be working on laws and regulations that will expel unskilled foreigners and replace them with Saudis,” he said.

The 231 SJAHI graduates specialized in maintenance and repair of cars. So far, 1,631 students graduated from the institute. According to unofficial statistics, the Saudi market would need more than 150,000 specialists in car maintenance and repair.

Al-Ghafees, on the other hand, said the corporation planned to establish 40 high-tech training centers for girls to qualify Saudi females in various technological specializations. He said 20 of them were currently under construction at the cost of SR2.5 billion.