In the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Turki Alfaisal, Chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, the Center held a lecture entitled: "Can We Saudize the Labour Market Without Damaging the Private Sector?" by Steffen Hertog, Associate Professor of Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics. It was held in the lecture hall of the King Faisal Foundation building in Riyadh, in the presence of a large number of specialists in political and economic affairs, experts, academics, ambassadors of foreign countries and public figures.

Dr. Steffen Hertog said in his lecture that the private sector relies on expatriate workers for low wages, despite their low skill, because of the low cost of employment of expatriate workers compared to Saudi nationals.

He pointed out that productivity levels in the labor market have been in a state of stagnation and therefore demands the need to develop the working environment to raise productivity, and this is reflected by the national transformation program, which aims to provide opportunities for Saudis in the private sector instead of the government sector.

The lecture is part of the Center's regular programs of organizing seminars, lectures and workshops, and hosting Saudi and non-Saudi specialists to discuss various intellectual, social, political and economic issues.