BEIRUT (ILO News) - Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) and the ILO launched the second phase of their programme of cooperation. Under this programme, the ILO will provide technical assistance and capacity building in five priority areas that were identified jointly with the Ministry.

The launch brought together a broad team from the key departments and affiliated agencies of the Ministry with a team of ILO specialists from its Regional Office for Arab States and its global headquarters. This new 3-year phase of the programme has a budget of approximately USD $3.5 million.

Saudi Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labour H.E. Abdullah Abuthnain acknowledged the close collaboration between the ILO and the MHRSD.

“The ILO is a trusted and valued partner of the Ministry during a period of rapid transformation in the Saudi labour market,” Abuthnain said. “This expanded programme of cooperation is testament to the good results of the first phase and will build upon these achievements.”

ILO Senior Employment Policy Specialist for the Arab States and manager of the programme of cooperation, Tariq Haq noted that the new programme will include activities aimed at improving employment and labour market policies and outcomes and strengthening social dialogue.

Cooperation will also aim to ensure the application of fundamental principles and rights at work, including provision of support to give effect to the National Policy for Eliminating and Preventing Child Labour and the recently adopted National Policy on Equality in Employment and Occupation. Both policies were developed with ILO support through the first phase of the programme.

A further focus is on improving skills governance for better employability of young Saudis and occupational safety and health at work.

ILO Deputy Regional Director for the Arab States Peter Rademaker considered that the selected areas of work represent a good fit with the ILO mandate and global priorities.

“This is a balanced programme of work, advancing both access to work especially for young people, as well as rights and conditions at work,” Rademaker said. “The ILO engagement with the Ministry stands out as a good example across the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council in terms of depth and breadth.”

Among other achievements, the Saudi government has made good progress in recent years on the ratification and implementation of international labour standards. The new phase of cooperation will enable the Government to build and expand upon these achievements and engage more comprehensively in social dialogue with the Saudi National Committee of Workers Committees and the Federation of Saudi Chambers, representing workers and employers respectively.