A decision to Saudise remote customer service, which came into effect earlier this month, aims to create 20,000 jobs by the end of next year, a Saudi official has said.

Last February, Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al Rajahi decreed limiting remote customer service in the kingdom to Saudis as part of efforts to replace expatriates with citizens.

The decision has so far provided nearly 8,000 jobs in the private sector for Saudis, spokesman for the ministry Saad Al Hamad told Okaz newspaper.

“This decision applies to all establishments in the kingdom whether the establishment has directly contracted the employed or indirectly through a communication centre,” he added.

Al Hamad explained that the decision also targets all remote customer service jobs, including top positions in the private sector comprising the services provided via phone, e-mail and social media.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has unveiled a series of initiatives to employ its nationals and replace foreign workers in several fields including education and telecommunications.

The Ministry of Human Resources has recently disclosed a plan to localise the kingdom’s real estate sector, designed to provide over 11,000 jobs for the Saudis. A related decree will take effect next month.

Foreigners make up about 10.5 million of Saudi Arabia’s total population of 34.8 million.