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Saudi Arabia Tops 67 Countries in Global Employment Growth Index

One of the employment forums in the Jazan region, located in southern Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
One of the employment forums in the Jazan region, located in southern Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Tops 67 Countries in Global Employment Growth Index

One of the employment forums in the Jazan region, located in southern Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
One of the employment forums in the Jazan region, located in southern Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s labor market continues to set records and lead global rankings. The Kingdom, which was at the top of G20 workforce participation from 2016 to 2021, now leads in employment and labor market growth among 67 countries in the Global Competitiveness Yearbook 2024.

The Saudi government is making several changes to labor laws to align with national strategies and international agreements. Recently, the Cabinet approved amendments to the labor law to support the market and improve conditions in productive and service sectors, aiming to create a more attractive work environment.

According to the National Labor Observatory, Saudi Arabia ranked third in labor market effectiveness legislation and fourth in skilled foreign labor in the Global Competitiveness Yearbook 2024.

The Kingdom also achieved fifth place in the labor market index and sixth in working hours. Additionally, Saudi Arabia ranked tenth in employee training.

Job Opportunities

The latest report shows that Saudi Arabia has improved its labor market rankings, moving from 24th place in 2022 to 16th place this year.

Last Tuesday, the Saudi Cabinet approved amendments to labor laws to improve job stability and protect rights, while enhancing human resources development and increasing job opportunities for Saudi citizens.

Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi said these changes reflect the government's strong support and ongoing efforts to align labor laws with global best practices.

The amendments involved extensive consultations with private sector companies, government agencies, and labor experts.

National Workforce

The amendments are expected to boost market efficiency and meet the needs of employers and employees. Over 1,300 participants contributed to the revisions, which included 38 changes, the removal of seven provisions, and the addition of two new provisions.

In July, the number of Saudi citizens joining the private sector for the first time rose to over 34,600, more than doubling from June. The total number of private sector workers reached 11.473 million, with Saudi employees numbering over 2.342 million.

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Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has made history by uniting the 193 member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to adopt the Riyadh Treaty on Design Law. This landmark achievement, realized after two decades of deliberation, underscores the Kingdom’s leadership in enhancing the global intellectual property system.

The announcement came at the conclusion of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty, a rare event for WIPO, which has not held a diplomatic conference outside Geneva for more than a decade. It was also the first such event hosted in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, representing the final stage of negotiations to establish an agreement aimed at simplifying and standardizing design protection procedures across member states.

Over the past two weeks, intensive discussions and negotiations among member states culminated in the adoption of the Riyadh Treaty, which commits signatory nations to a unified set of requirements for registering designs, ensuring consistent and streamlined procedures worldwide. The agreement is expected to have a significant positive impact on designers, enabling them to protect their creations more effectively and uniformly across international markets.

At a press conference held on Friday to mark the event’s conclusion, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem highlighted the economic potential of the new protocol.

Responding to a question from Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Suwailem noted the substantial contributions of young Saudi men and women in creative design. He explained that the agreement will enable their designs to be formally protected, allowing them to enter markets as valuable, tradable assets.

He also emphasized the symbolic importance of naming the convention the Riyadh Treaty, stating that it reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a bridge between cultures and a global center for innovative initiatives.

The treaty lays critical legal foundations to support designers and drive innovation worldwide, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s vision of promoting international collaboration in the creative industries and underscoring its leadership in building a sustainable future for innovators.

The agreement also advances global efforts to enhance creativity, protect intellectual property, and stimulate innovation on a broader scale.

This achievement further strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for groundbreaking initiatives, demonstrating its commitment to nurturing creativity, safeguarding designers’ rights, and driving the development of creative industries on an international scale.

The Riyadh Diplomatic Conference, held from November 11 to 22, was hosted by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and attracted high-ranking officials and decision-makers from WIPO member states.