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Saudi Arabia has begun restricting changes to certain job titles held by expatriate workers, as part of a wider push to reserve key roles for nationals and tighten labour market controls.
According to updates published on the official Qiwa labour platform, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has suspended the service that allows employers to amend selected occupational titles for foreign employees. The move applies to a number of senior and commercially sensitive positions that are now limited to Saudi nationals.
Roles affected by the suspension include general manager, sales representative, marketing specialist and procurement manager. As a result, companies are no longer able to reclassify expatriate workers under these job titles through the digital system.
Qiwa, which is operated by the ministry, serves as the government’s main digital gateway for managing private-sector labour relations. The platform oversees employment contracts, job classifications and workforce mobility across the Kingdom.
The latest measure is seen as part of broader efforts to strengthen labour market regulation and ensure that job titles accurately reflect actual professional responsibilities, particularly at senior levels and in strategic business functions.
The ministry has not clarified whether the suspension is temporary or if further professions will be added to the restricted list in the coming months.
