RIYADH — Saudi Arabia Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi issued an order on Wednesday, raising the minimum wages for Saudi employees. The minimum wages paid to Saudi citizens employed under the “Nitaqat” employment program has been raised to SAR 4,000 from SAR 3,000 as part of the minister"s order. The ministry explained that as per the new decision of the minister, a Saudi worker with a minimum salary of SR4,000 will be calculated as one worker in the Nitaqat program. Earlier, the minimum salary was SR3,000 for the calculation of one Saudi worker. Under the new directive, a Saudi worker whose monthly wage is SR3,000 will be calculated as half a worker. Only two Saudi employees with a minimum salary of SR3,000 will be calculated as one worker. Part-time employees will also be calculated in the Nitaqat program as half of a Saudi worker provided that social insurance contributions are paid for him with a minimum monthly wage of SR3,000, the ministry said. A part-time worker is calculated as half a worker for a minimum of two entities.