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Say goodbye to possible expat jobs in Saudi malls

Migrant workers would soon no longer be allowed to work in Saudi Arabia’s shopping malls, reported Agence France-Presse.

“The Minister of Labour and Social Development issues a decision restricting the work in malls across the kingdom to only Saudi men and women,” an advisory published via social media reads.

The protectionist policy is reportedly part of a development plan dubbed “Vision 2030.”

“The kingdom has intensified efforts to develop more jobs for its citizens under a wide-ranging drive that began last year to diversify the oil-dependent economy,” the report said.

The report said there are nine million foreigners worked in the kingdom at the end of 2015, according to latest official figures.

Saudi Arabia is a top destination for migrating Filipino workers, who work in various industries not limited to jobs in shopping malls.

Saudi Arabia also houses the biggest Filipino population in the Middle East, with the Saudi government having forged deals with the Philippines during Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent trip to the kingdom.

Last April 17, Duterte came home with 138 migrant Filipino workers from Saudi Arabia – some reportedly stranded or undocumented.

While the Philippines is a labor-sending country, previous administrations have sought for the creation of jobs at home so that working abroad would not be a necessity.

There are over 10 million Filipinos scattered abroad, with their remittances to the Philippines providing a major boost to the country.

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