HRSD Ministry targets 11 new nationalization decisions by year-end

The meeting at Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) aims to finalize 11 new nationalization decisions before the year-end, Minister Ahmed Al-Rajhi said during a meeting at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Oct. 16.

These decisions include professions such as project management, procurement, and, food and pharmaceuticals, he added.

The nationalization decisions for various sectors, activities and professions contributed to the rise in employment of Saudis in the private sector to more than 2.13 million, while the unemployment rate among nationals dipped to 9.7%.

The decisions also drove higher rate of economic participation of women by 35.6%, Al-Rajhi said, praising the national efforts provided by the private sector in employing Saudis, and the distinguished partnership with businesspeople to achieve the goals of the Vision 2030.

The percentage of compliance of private sector establishments with the labor laws and regulations reached 98% this year, and more than 74% of labor cases are resolved through Administrations Friendly Settlement for Labor Disputes without the need to go to the courts, the minister said.

The compliance rate in the wage protection program reached nearly 80%. In addition, more than 3.8 million labor contracts were documented in the Tawtheeq program, along with digitizing contracts electronically, ensuring that the worker and the employer receive on a copy of a notarized regulatory contract.

Meanwhile, he referred to the automation of the ministry's services within an ambitious project for digital transformation, where the number of services provided in “Qiwa platform” reached 127, serving over 3 million users and more than one million companies.

It also provides more than 700,000 services per month to beneficiaries without the need to visit service offices. The ministry also expanded the services of “Musaned platform” from one service to more than 35 services that are fully automated and serve more than 2 million beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, Riyadh Chamber Chairman Ajlan Al-Ajlan stressed that the private sector is a major supporter and participant in achieving the objectives of the Vision 2030 at all levels, the most important of which are nationalization programs and job creation, explaining that the private sector in partnership and integration with HRSD Ministry contributed to these programs to reduce unemployment.

Following this, an open dialogue was held between the Minister and businesspeople, where Al-Rajhi answered their questions, inquiries and development proposals.