Saudi Arabia's  Labor Ministry has been criticised for failing to reduce unemployment in the country by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nazaha), a report said.

It also blasted the private sector for not hiring enough Saudis, the Arab News report said.

In a scathing attack, Nazaha was quoted as commenting the private sector can recruit foreign workers easily, pay them low salaries, and let them work long hours under conditions that are mostly unsuitable for Saudi citizens.

Visas issued for new foreign workers equalled the number of expatriates who had left the country since the start of the Saudization programme, Nazaha was quoted as saying in communications between it and the ministry.

It said the private sector “strongly resisted and thwarted” the ministry’s efforts to find jobs for Saudis, the report stated.

The Labor Ministry “did not fulfill the aspirations” of the employment strategy approved by the Council of Ministers in 2010, the report stated.