The Deputy Minister of Human Resources: In partnership with the private sector, we seek to develop the labor market
The private sector, in cooperation with the Ministry, has managed to employ 400,000 Saudis since 2018 until now
His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Abu-Athnen, explained that the ministry seeks to improve the work environment and reach the percentage of nationalization targeted by the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, based on consultation and communication with the private sector. We have periodic meetings with businessmen who are the source of our decisions and among them Improve and refine it.
During a meeting hosted by the Asharqia Chamber yesterday, Wednesday, June 9, 2021, which was attended by several businessmen and women, and was moderated by the Chamber's president, Abdul Hakim bin Hamad Al-Ammar Al-Khalidi, he stated that the ministry's new strategy focuses on radical reforms, works to create sustainable job opportunities, and stimulates the demand for national manpower. Raising the level of their skills and abilities commensurate with the situation of the labor market.
Abo-Athnen added that the extensive meetings that the ministry conducts with businessmen result in several initiatives. In one meeting, 86 initiatives resulted, all of which entered into force, and since last year we have 13 other initiatives that are the product of workshops organized in partnership with the private sector, because we through In these meetings, we seek observations, monitor gaps, evaluate initiatives, and seek to activate them. We have more additional initiatives that, God willing, will contribute to achieving our goals and the goals of rational leadership in improving the work environment in the local market.
His Excellency said that the ministry's agencies are working hard to make the labor market more dynamic, so some other work patterns have been activated, such as hourly work and remote work, and we seek to discover other patterns, and they will be calculated from the Saudization rates.
He pointed out that since the ministry has adopted the partnership approach with the private sector, it has resulted in 11 Emiratisation agreements in 11 sectors, which since 2018 have contributed to the employment of more than 400,000 Saudis, and that the Saudization program targets 115,000 jobs in six sectors, in more than One hundred professions, based on the principle of training, searching for national workers, and communicating with them.
Turning to the ministry's initiatives during the pandemic period, he said that the ministry implemented 16 initiatives during the past year that had a positive impact in maintaining market balance and stability, even in the Kingdom.
Abu Athnen indicated that the ministry adopts the principle of review, evaluation, and making amendments, for example, the developer ranges program, which began in 2011 in 13 activities, and after the amendments, it includes 80 activities in 2017, and the increase is also on the way, and it is subject to addressing many of the gaps that were monitored, and on, As a result, the minimum wage for Saudis was raised to 4000 riyals, and many procedures were facilitated.
