In a move set to boost employment in Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom has implemented a host of new improvements to its labor market. The enhancements aim to enable and develop private sector institutions through supporting employment.
The new procedures aim to empower establishments and their continuity in the Saudi labor market, specialists told Asharq Al-Awsat. Moreover, they seek to raise employment rates by instating new controls.
On Thursday, the Human Resources Development Fund (HADAF) announced positive amendments to the controls of its Employment Support Program, allowing the largest number of private sector institutions to benefit from the plan.
The development and improvement of the controls of the Employment Support Program come as a continuation of HADAF’s goal to empower private sector enterprises and support the wages of Saudis working there, said HADAF Director-General Turki Al-Jawini.
Al-Jawini urged all enterprises to benefit from the Program through the National Labor Gateway (TAQAT).
For his part, Mansour Al-Shathri, head of the Human Resources and Labor Market Committee at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Riyadh, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the new improvements contribute to reducing unemployment rates and enable enterprises to continue in the labor market.
The Employment Support Program is part of government support initiatives to empower establishments and ensure their stability and business development, considering the current exceptional economic situations and the impacts of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Program also supports the wages of Saudis who were employed in various private sector establishments starting from 30% to 50% of the employees’ monthly wages for two years, provided that the employees’ wages range between SR 4000 and 15,000.
Establishments get 10% additional support when employing women, persons with disabilities, employing in non-major cities, and in small and medium enterprises for each of the categories mentioned, provided that the maximum support does not exceed 50% of the employee’s monthly wage, or SR 3000, whichever less.
