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H.E. Eng. Ahmad bin Sulaiman AlRajhi, the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD), signed today, Wednesday, June 4, a renewal agreement with the International Labour Organization (ILO), initiating the third phase of the technical cooperation program between both parties. The signing occurred on the sidelines of the 113th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva.
This agreement extends the cooperation that began in 2018, aiming to support Saudi Arabia's efforts in developing labor policies, enhancing the work environment, and improving job quality. These efforts contribute to achieving sustainable economic growth and align with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 toward a dynamic, competitive, and inclusive labor market.
H.E. Al-Rajhi affirmed that renewing this strategic partnership reflects Saudi Arabia’s firm commitment to developing the work environment according to the highest international standards and strengthening the integration between national policies and global trends. The goal is to build an effective and attractive labor market that enhances human capital efficiency and boosts the competitiveness of the national economy.
H.E. emphasized that international cooperation is a fundamental pillar in addressing shared labor challenges and developing sustainable solutions that benefit both workers and employers. He also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s key achievements and reforms in recent years, including:
•Developing the Wage Protection System.
•Increasing women’s participation in the labor market to 35.5% by the end of 2024.
•Launching the National Policy to Eliminate Forced Labor in February 2025, the first of its kind in the Arab region.
•Amending Article 61 of the Labor Law to prohibit all forms of discrimination in the workplace based on race, gender, age, disability, or social status.
•Enhancing occupational health and safety, with compliance rates reaching 72.6% and a yearly decrease in workplace injuries.
•Introducing AI-powered digital inspection systems for proactive risk detection and intervention.
•Supporting tripartite dialogue mechanisms through effective programs like amicable dispute resolution, which achieved a contractual success rate of 79% in 2024.
Concluding his remarks, H.E. Minister Al-Rajhi announced that Saudi Arabia will host the third Global Labor Market Conference (GLMC) in Riyadh on January 29–30, 2026, inviting all delegations participating in the International Labour Conference to join this important event, which will expand international cooperation and exchange expertise toward a fairer and more sustainable labor future.