The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development organized a dialogue session on the sidelines of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva. The session discussed "The Role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Combating Forced Labor and Promoting Decent Work."
The session was inaugurated by His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labor, Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Abu Thunain. It was attended by the Undersecretary of the Ministry for Inspection and Development of the Work Environment, Mr. Sattam bin Amer Al-Harbi, as well as representatives from the International Labour Organization and the International Organization for Migration.
The topics of the session focused on the efforts stemming from the Kingdom's commitments to combat forced labor and the roles of national policies, civil society, workers, employers, and international organizations in this regard. Additionally, the session highlighted the regulatory frameworks in the Kingdom that promote decent work and fight against forced labor.
The Undersecretary of the Ministry for Inspection and Development of the Work Environment highlighted the role of the Kingdom in providing national policies to promote decent work, which enhances the competitiveness of the Saudi labor market with global markets and raises its ranking in international competitiveness indicators. This is achieved by elevating labor policies according to organized labor practices, regulating labor relations, and creating a work environment through necessary legislation to ensure occupational health and safety.
The Undersecretary also addressed the role of scientific research in measuring the impact of legislation and policies, as well as the importance of international cooperation in combating forced labor. He emphasized the Kingdom's determination to soon launch a national policy to eliminate forced labor practices.
The session also discussed the role of national organizations in supporting government efforts and enhancing the regulatory frameworks of local legislation through the participation of representatives from international organizations, including the International Labour Organization and the International Organization for Migration. It also addressed the impact of labor policies launched in previous years on the labor market and the workforce, with contributions from representatives of the National Committee for Labor Committees and the Saudi Chambers of Commerce.
The organization of such a dialogue session comes as part of highlighting efforts regarding the Kingdom's commitment to combat forced labor, provide suitable and safe job opportunities for all, and enhance international cooperation in this field. Representatives from various countries, international organizations, and interested researchers attended the session.
It is worth mentioning that the Kingdom's commitment to combating forced labor and promoting decent work in the labor market stems from the legal and legislative measures put in place to protect workers' rights and combat forced labor in the Kingdom. These measures include defining the rights and obligations of workers and specifying the necessary legal procedures to enforce these rights and obligations.
Indeed, the Saudi labor system serves as a reference that outlines the rights and duties of both workers and employers. This system has been developed to align with international standards in the field of protecting workers' rights and combating forced labor.
