MLSD, its affiliated entities launch 68 initiatives in bid to boost nationalization in the private sector

The Ministry of Labor and Social Development (MLSD) and its affiliated entities announced Sunday they have launched 68 initiatives to motivate the private sector to expand nationalization and to raise participation rates of national workforce, which targets individuals, small, medium, large and mega-sized enterprises. H.E. Minister of Labor and Social Development Eng. Ahmed bin Suleiman al-Rajhi said these initiatives support the private sector and boots its growth, generate more job opportunities that are sustainable and productive for Saudi men and women in various regions of the Kingdom, contribute to entrepreneurship, raise competitiveness in the labor market and develop skills of national cadre. Eng. al-Rajhi added they are in a bid to achieve the strategic plans and support the national economy which is in line with the National Transformation Program’s’ Goals and Saudi Vision 2030. He thanked everyone who has transformed these initiatives into reality as they come as a result of workshops conducted with the business sectors, specialized committees, interested parties, specialists, government entities and the society’s members. The MLSD said the first phase of initiatives will be carried out within three months, followed by other phases of programs and initiatives according to the timetable set by the ministry and its affiliated entities. On the one hand, these initiatives that target individuals aim to facilitate employment, increase training opportunities, improve services and working environment, spread labor education among them and to involve workers in decision-making. On the other hand, the general goals of these initiatives that target establishments are to ease business flow, improve services and to activate communication between the ministry and businessmen. Both workers and job seekers can benefit from the initiatives, namely Subsidy Programs (HRDF), Profession Target Subsidy Programs, Employment Offices and University Career Offices, Onboarding Program for Graduates, Saudization Agreements with Regulation Bodies Overseeing Business Activities, Government Procurement Saudization and Employment through Training Partners. They also can utilize other initiatives, including Expanding the ‘Qurrah’ children Hospitality Program, Expanding the ‘Wusool’ Transportation Program, Increasing Training Opportunities in ‘Tamheer’ Program and Freelancer Program, Remote Work, National Program for Harmonizing Human Recourses, Experience for All Saudis, Improving Job Posting and Matching (NLG) and Union of Labor Committees. Moreover, small, medium, large and mega-sized entities also have access to the initiatives, namely Miras Platform, Increasing the Number of Business Categories in Nitaqat, Digital Transformation, Labor Self-Assessment Program, Inspection Compliance Program, Leadership Academy Initiative, SME Program, Mega Projects Alignment, Replacement Visas, Economic and Social Dialogue with the Social Community and Launching Labor Market Indictors. Additionally, the establishments’ initiatives cover Emergency Visa, Extending Visa Validity, Granting Instant Visas for to Entities within Platinum Nitaqat Category, King Salman Saudization Award, Financial Nitaqat, Real-time Registration of Employment Activity, Profession Based Nitaqat, Redistributing Services on Nitaqat Bands, Mid-Green Nitaqat for Foreign Recruitment, Settlement of Labor Violations in Exchange for Increasing Saudization, PPP for Firm Labor bylaw Approvals, Outsourcing Framework Program, Qiwa (unified labor gateway) and Firm Self Indicator (Nitaqi) and Seriousness Index for Firms. The ministry added it also includes initiatives related to improving recruitment procedures, accelerating recruitment for permit not targeted by Saudi nationals, express visas and ‘Activating Foreign Investments Program in Domestic Employment and Service Provision’. Furthermore, the ministry and its affiliated entities have designed several initiatives for individuals, entities, stakeholders and partners, including Entrepreneurs’ Incentives, Sectoral Saudization, Regional Saudization, Unifying and Simplification of Female Work regulations, Digital Employment Contracts, Complaints System, Labor Awareness Program, Activating the Ma3an Portal, Improving Procedures for Occupation Modification, Labor Attaches, Occupational Awards, Developing Contractual Relationships, Improving Final Exit Procedures, Improving Exit and Return Procedures and Nitaqat Program for Fresh Graduates.