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(MENAFN - Arab News) The Labor Ministry announced Wednesday that it would continue to allow expatriates working in premium and green category companies to change their professions and that there would not be any deadline for them to complete the procedure.

"The process of changing profession is still open for workers in premium and green categories," said Hattab Al-Anazi, spokesman of the ministry. "This is one of the incentives given to the two categories and it will not be restricted by any date," he said.

However, he pointed out that Feb. 22, 2012 was the last date for changing profession for those expatriates in the red and yellow categories. "We'll not give them any extension to change their professions," he added.

The ministry had allowed all private companies and establishments the provision to amend professions on the work permits of their foreign workers electronically without visiting the ministry.

Engineering and medical professions, which require special licenses, are excluded from the provision.

Foreigners might amend their professions to any other one with the exception of director of labor and laborers, personnel manager, personnel specialist, personnel clerk, employment official, HR clerk, timekeeper, receptionist at hotels and hospitals, complaint writer, cashier, special security guard, pursuer, and senior HR official.

The ministry warned private companies and establishments that if they were caught giving incorrect data about their foreign workers, it would suspend their operating licenses for five years and prevent them from foreign recruitment in future.

There are about 8 million foreigners in Saudi Arabia, representing about 30 percent of the country's population. Nearly 6 million expatriate workers are employed by the private sector.

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Saudi- No deadline to regularize profession for 'green' expats