On October 7th, 2012, the Saudi Shura Council (Consultative Assembly) passed a bill stipulating the "Saudization" of all operation and maintenance works in the public utilities sector.
The Assistant Chairman of the Council reported to the Saudi Press Agency that "no worker other than Saudi should be employed in operation and maintenance contracts of public utilities unless the job is of a special nature and no skilled Saudi workers are available in that specialization".
The bill also stipulates that, should a contractor hire a foreign worker for a skill-intensive position, he shall also appoint a Saudi as the expatriate's assistant. The latter should acquire the competencies to fully substitute the foreign worker in the future.