Jeddah: Exemption for small firms to pay ‘levy’, the work permit fee for foreign workers, has been extended for one more year. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by King Salman at the Arqa Palace in Riyadh on Tuesday.
Small firms with a total of nine or less employees, including the owner, were exempted from paying the levy for a period of three years. The first decision regarding this came on April 7, 2020. Clauses 2 and 3 of Decision No. 515 taken by the Cabinet at that time have been extended for another year by the Saudi Cabinet with less than a day left to expire. With this, companies that have completed three years will be exempted from paying the levy for one more year.
The decision of the cabinet to give relief for one more year from paying the levy is a relief to the small firms of the country with a total of nine or less workers including the owner. The decision is to exempt foreign workers from the work permit fee of 800 Riyals per month (9600 Riyals per year). It will be reduced to 100 riyals. Many small businesses can benefit from this.