Latest news with #AhmadAlRajhi
Arab News
18-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Strengthening Kingdom's global partnerships to shape the future of work
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development recently represented Saudi Arabia at the International Labour Conference in Geneva. In meetings with representatives of governments, employers and workers from around the world, we reaffirmed our belief that international collaboration and the sharing of best practices are critical drivers of sustainable labor market development in the Kingdom. This commitment was strengthened during the conference with the signing of the third phase of technical cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the International Labour Organization. The renewed agreement — signed by Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmad Al-Rajhi and ILO Director General Gilbert Houngbo — reflects our shared ambition to promote decent work and build a more resilient and inclusive labor market, prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. Saudi Arabia has implemented wide-ranging reforms to transform the labor market in line with Vision 2030. This partnership has contributed to significant progress in key areas of the Kingdom's labor market — from occupational safety to skills development — and has supported greater participation across all segments of society, especially among women and young people. This renewed collaboration builds on another important milestone: the signing of a memorandum of understanding last month to enable Saudi nationals to participate in the junior professional officers and secondment programs at the ILO, providing them with opportunities to gain international experience. These initiatives will equip the next generation of Saudi professionals with direct experience in multilateral labor governance, fostering expertise across our institutions. At the core of these efforts is our belief that labor markets must be built on fairness, safety and shared prosperity. Reforms introduced under Vision 2030 have already produced measurable results. Between 2019 and the end of last year, more than 700,000 Saudis entered private sector employment, taking the total to about 2.4 million. Today, the country's overall unemployment is 3.5 percent, with unemployment among Saudi citizens at 7 percent at the end of 2024. The labor force participation rate among Saudi women now exceeds 36 percent, up from 17.7 percent in 2016, while young Saudis are increasingly benefiting from vocational education, digital skills training and tailored employment services. At the same time, Saudi Arabia recognizes the global challenges reshaping the world of work — from technological disruption to shifting demographics — and is preparing its workforce through targeted reforms. More than 4 million people have already benefited from such initiatives. As well as expanding access to the labor market, the country has introduced robust measures to protect all workers, including expatriates. These include improvements to recruitment practices, grievance mechanisms, wage protection and occupational health and safety standards. Furthermore, digital platforms such as Musaned and Qiwa are driving transparency and streamlining key labor processes to promote fair treatment and accountability. Saudi Arabia's alignment with international labor standards is central to this transformation. It has ratified core conventions, including the ILO's Convention No. 95 on the Protection of Wages and the 2014 Protocol to the Forced Labor Convention No. 29, and last year strengthened its commitment to worker well-being by ratifying ILO Convention No. 187 on the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health. The Kingdom recently became the first Arab country to introduce a national policy for the elimination of forced labor, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding rights in the world of work. Our collaboration with the ILO demonstrates what can be achieved when international partnerships are rooted in shared values and leveraged as part of a transformative agenda. Looking ahead, we remain committed to deepening international cooperation, including through emerging regional and global platforms. One example is the Global Labor Market Conference, held annually in Riyadh, with its third edition scheduled for Jan. 29-30, 2026. With the participation of leading policymakers, researchers and international organizations, including the ILO, the conference provides a forum to shape labor policies that are inclusive and globally coordinated. In parallel with these reforms, Saudi Arabia is intensifying efforts to attract highly skilled individuals in critical sectors such as artificial intelligence, entertainment, mining, biotechnology and renewable energy. Initiatives like the premium residency program and specialized visa pathways for professionals support this ambition, helping position the Kingdom as a leading regional and global hub for innovation, creativity and expertise. Our commitment to international collaboration through forums such as the International Labor Conference and Global Labor Market Conference, as well as through bilateral engagement, remains steadfast and continues to support our efforts to build a labor market that benefits all: at home, in the region and beyond. As we shape this future, we welcome continued partnership with governments, employers and international institutions to ensure the world of work is built on fairness, resilience and shared progress. • Dr. Tariq bin Abdulaziz Al-Hamad is deputy minister for international affairs at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
Argaam
30-01-2025
- Business
- Argaam
HRSD implemented 80% of Labor Market Strategy: Minister
Minister of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) Ahmad AlRajhi said that the ministry launched many initiatives to support the labor market, including the Labor Market Strategy, which was launched in 2020, 80% of which was implemented so far. In a statement on the sidelines of the Global Labor Market Conference (GLMC), AlRajhi said that the number of Saudis working in the private sector increased from 1.7 million to 2.4 million within four years, while the women's participation increased from 20% before launching Saudi Vision 2030 to 36%, exceeding the specified target for 2030. During the GLMC, the minister announced the launch of two main initiatives, including the International Labor Market Academy in partnership with the World Bank with the aim of training policymakers to develop appropriate strategies for the labor market, where 50 policy makers will be trained this year, 200 in the next year, and 300 in 2027. The initiatives include the future work report, as a strategic report that provides data and analyzes to support decision makers in addressing the challenges of the labor market, he added. The GLMC is witnessing today a qualitative leap in participation, as the number of participants reached 5,000 from 100 countries, compared to 2,000 participants from 70 countries in the previous version, which reflects the growing global interest in the challenges of the labor market, AlRajhi further indicated. Moreover, he noted that the ministerial round table meeting focused on employing youth and reducing unemployment rate, as well as highlighting three main axes of the conference this year, including the skills gap and the requirements of the labor market, the population change and its impact on the labor market, and the green economy and the unemployment rate among youth. This conference is not just an annual event, but a pivotal platform that contributes to the development of strategic solutions for the global labor market, and we look forward to continuing this momentum, the minister concluded.
