In order to increase the amount of local workers in the private sector, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has launched a National Program for Emiratisation called ‘Tawteen’. The program implements a new labour market testing platform called ‘Tawteen Gate’, which requires selected companies to create job advertisements accessible to UAE nationals seeking employment before those employers can hire foreign nationals
Saudi Arabia: Labour Market Testing Period Extended
Effective immediately, job advertisements posted by employers on the Taqat jobs portal must remain posted for at least 45 days, up from the previous 14-day requirement, unless a suitable candidate has been identified earlier, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development.
The labour market verification period was extended to increase an employer's chances of finding an appropriate Saudi candidate.
Saudi Arabia: Labour market testing now required for work authorisation process
Employers in the private sector must complete a labour market test to obtain block visas, effective immediately.
The new requirement is expected to complicate and add several weeks to the overall work authorisation process. Obtaining a block visa is the first stage of the work authorisation process, and is mandatory for all employers seeking to hire foreign nationals in Saudi Arabia.