Professional Accreditation Program By Ministry Ensures Competence Of Expatriate Workers In Saudi Arabia

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development is enhancing the labour market through its Professional Accreditation Program. This initiative has accredited over 209,500 workers in more than 1,000 occupations globally. The program ensures expatriate workers meet the required skills and qualifications for their professions, aligning with the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations to foster a high-quality work environment.

The program includes "Professional Verification" and "Professional Inspection" services. "Professional Verification" checks the skills, experiences, and certifications of expatriates in high-skill jobs. This service is automated and completed within 15 working days via an electronic platform. Meanwhile, "Professional Inspection" focuses on medium and low-skill workers in non-degree professions, assessing their skills through tests conducted before and after entering Saudi Arabia.

The "Professional Verification" service is crucial for ensuring that expatriate workers possess the necessary skills for high-skill jobs. This process is fully automated and conducted through a unified electronic platform with a maximum processing time of 15 working days. It aims to verify the skills, experiences, and certifications of expatriate workers efficiently.

On the other hand, "Professional Inspection" targets workers with medium and low skill levels in professions that do not require academic degrees. It assesses the skill levels of expatriate workers through practical and theoretical tests conducted before and after they enter Saudi Arabia.

The program has already included five countries that are major sources of expatriate workers for Saudi Arabia: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Egypt. It continues to grow by covering more countries and professions. This expansion aims to increase awareness among employers about hiring qualified expatriate workers to ensure job performance quality.

Employers can assess their workforce using over 127 professional examination centres inside and outside Saudi Arabia. The program's growth will help create a labour market with trusted competencies by regulating worker entry based on knowledge and skills.

Enhancing Workforce Quality

This initiative contributes to raising awareness among employers about employing qualified expatriates. It ensures job performance quality while improving professional qualifications across various sectors. By regulating worker entry into Saudi Arabia based on necessary knowledge and skills, it helps create a trusted labour market.

The Professional Accreditation Program aims to align with the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations to guarantee a more efficient work environment. As it expands further, it will cover additional countries and workforce-exporting nations.

The ongoing efforts by the Ministry aim to improve labour market outputs significantly. By accrediting skilled professionals worldwide, they ensure that only qualified individuals contribute positively to the Kingdom's economy.

With inputs from SPA