Saudi Arabia replaces labour minister in key cabinet revamp
RIYADH, June 2, 2018
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has replaced the minister of labor and ordered the creation of a new ministry for culture as he seeks to modernise the economy and create jobs for the country’s largely youthful population, reported Bloomberg.
Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al Rajhi, whose family owns one of Saudi Arabia’s largest banking groups, was named minister of laboUr and social development, replacing Ali bin Nasser Al Ghafis, stated the report citing royal orders published by state media on Saturday.
Prince Badr bin Farhan Al Saud was named culture minister after the ministry was separated from the information ministry.
Al Rajhi’s tasks will include seeking to reduce an unemployment rate of 12.8 per cent. Job creation in the kingdom has stagnated, even after the government pushed companies to replace foreign workers with nationals said the Bloomberg report.
The aim of the new culture minister will be to capture more of Saudis’ spending on leisure and keep it at home by expanding a narrow range of entertainment options, it stated.
Among other appointments, Abdel Latif Al Alsheikh was named as minister of Islamic affairs. Alsheikh was put in charge of the kingdom’s religious police in 2012 after police powers were curbed.
The royal decree also named several deputies for the ministries of interior, telecommunications, transport and energy as well as industry and minerals, said the report.
It also appointed new heads to two government bodies - the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, and the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, it added.
