Saudi Arabia: Saudization Requirements Announced for Several Food, Marketing and Sales Professions in the Medina Region

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development issued a decision which will implement Saudization ratios in the Medina region for select activities in the food industry sector, as well as for several professions in sales and marketing. In the restaurant sector, restaurants with service, banquet kitchens, fast-food restaurants, and juice shops must meet a 40% Saudization ratio by July 8, 2023, while cafes with service and ice cream shops must meet a 50% ratio by this date. This only applies to those businesses that operate in stand-alone or mixed-use buildings, complexes and closed commercial centers with four or more workers in a shift for restaurants and two or more workers in a shift for cafes. Further, cafeterias, catering contractors, caterers, canteens and cafeterias in factories, offices, hospitals, schools, restaurants, cafes inside hotels and apartment and hotel villas are excluded from these requirements. In wholesale food and beverages, businesses must meet a 50% Saudization ratio by July 8, 2023, with the exception of cleaning, freight and unloading workers. Additionally, in the marketing and sales sectors, marketing specialists and sales representatives must meet a 40% ratio by June 23, 2023 and cashiers must meet a 100% ratio by June 23, 2023, with the exception of cashiers for car maintenance shops, gas stations, restaurants, cafes, plant nurseries, workshops and sales outlets smaller than 300 square meters. Employers in the Medina region should review procedural details in order to comply with the new Saudization ratios by their implementation dates.