His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Abothinen, Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labor, participated today, Tuesday, December 3, 2024, in the Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and the Pacific 2024, organized by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) and hosted by the General Organization for Social Insurance.
In the inaugural session titled 'Social Transformation in the Kingdom and the Social Security System under the Vision 2030,' His Excellency reviewed the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development's efforts to develop the labor market, aligning with Vision 2030's primary objective of diversifying the economy and achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth. He highlighted the ministry's initiatives and their positive impact on reducing the historic unemployment rate to a record low of 3.3%, placing the Kingdom fifth among the G20 countries with the lowest unemployment rates. He also noted the growth of the market size and the increase in the number of private sector employees to an all-time high.
His Excellency the Deputy emphasized that the Kingdom has also prioritized women's empowerment. The Ministry has implemented regulatory changes and several other key initiatives that have contributed to doubling women's labor force participation from 17% in 2016 to 35.4% in 2024, exceeding the Vision 2030 target of 30% ahead of schedule.
Regarding the ministry's role in achieving global leadership in digital government, His Excellency Abothinen stated, 'We have launched various initiatives to proactively manage and enhance the capabilities of the workforce to meet the growing demand for highly skilled labor. These initiatives include the establishment of 12 sectoral skills councils to strengthen cooperation in skills demand and planning, as well as the introduction of the Saudi Skills Classification to align the Saudi labor market with global trends and even surpass them. We have introduced new reforms such as the launch of the professional certification program to verify the qualifications and capabilities of expatriate workers in all categories. In partnership with employers, we have launched the national training campaign "Wa'ad" to provide approximately 3 million training opportunities. Additionally, we have launched the Skills Acceleration Initiative to enhance and re-skill more than 320,000 workers in seven priority sectors, in cooperation with the Human Capacity Development Program”.
His Excellency highlighted that the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has been keen on empowering the private sector to achieve the goals of Vision 2030. The ministry has achieved numerous accomplishments through simplifying its service offerings to private sector institutions, such as launching the "Qiwa" platform, a comprehensive digital space for the entire labor market that provides more than 130 essential services. Additionally, the ministry has implemented a digital contract system and issued regulations supporting new forms of work, such as freelancing, flexible work, and remote work, to adapt to evolving work trends. The ultimate goal is to make the Saudi labor market a pioneer and a benchmark for global best practices.
Regarding the Ministry's efforts in the field of social development, His Excellency explained that the Ministry's endeavors aim to support all segments of society with limited financial capabilities by enhancing their integration and empowerment. To achieve this, empowerment clinics have been established, serving as community centers that connect government agencies with the private and non-profit sectors to meet the diverse needs of individuals and sponsored families. In 2024, the Ministry enabled 120,000 beneficiaries to achieve financial independence through targeted training programs and skill development.
In closing the session, His Excellency Abothinen highlighted that these achievements were made possible through collaboration and synergy with stakeholders, including other ministries, the private sector, and non-profit sectors. He emphasized the Ministry's determination to redouble its efforts in this important cooperation to realize the aspirations of the wise leadership by achieving the goals of Vision 2030.
