Saudi Arabia has launched major facilities for the private sector including electronic visa issuance for top firms which have achieved the required Saudization rates, a report said.

Other facilities include an e-recruitment portal and government approval gate which will see Labour Ministry services move from the traditional procedures, the Arab News report added, citing Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The electronic visa issuance service is aimed at visa balance to medium green category firms, or higher, automatically, said Labour Minister Mufrej Al-Haqabani, adding that these firms will also get government approvals in accordance with a set of regulations and conditions without need of scrutiny at the labour office.

The service will also allow appropriate number of visas immediately whereby the company could set up new activities or expand the existing ones as soon as they submit their applications to the ministry electronically.

He said the employment of Saudis makes the firm a distinct one and, thereby, qualify it to obtain premium services.

He said the ministry has worked to automate visa issuance through the government approval gate where the relevant authorities become the donor of visas, which will accelerate implementation of government projects that will be positively reflected on citizens.

The issuance of visas through the government approval gate will make recruitment of foreign workers a joint responsibility of the government and firms, he said.

For the issuance of visas electronically, the firm should be in the medium green category or higher, their period of establishment should be more than six months, the minister said.

The number of required visas should not contribute to downgrade the firm below the medium green category, the firm should be committed to wage protection programme, and the firm should be free from (negative) remarks of inspectors, Al-Haqabani explained.