ILO Regional Office for Arab States lauds Saudi Arabia’s National Efforts to Prepare for the Future of Work
A social dialogue forum to discuss developing the private sector’s contribution to the national economy demonstrates the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to preparing for the future of work, and to providing young Saudis with the competitive skills they need to fill private-sector jobs and increasing women’s labour force participation rates, in line with the country’s Vision 2030.
26 October 2016
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العربية
BEIRUT, Lebanon (ILO News) – A high-level meeting to discuss the role of Saudi Arabia’s private sector, set to take place in Riyadh on 26-27 October under the title “The Positive Impact of Private Sector Professional Management on Saudization,” demonstrates the Kingdom’s commitment to ensuring that the tripartite actors in the world of work – governments, workers and employers - are effectively involved in designing and preparing for future labour market challenges, the ILO Regional Office for Arab States said. The forum will highlight the value of human resource departments in nationalizing the labour force and improving job performance, and the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of HR policies in creating more jobs for nationals in private sector enterprises, in line with Vision 2030.
“Saudi Arabia is making great strides in preparing for the challenges and uncertainties the future of work holds not only for the Kingdom, but for all in the region and beyond,” said ILO Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat.
“The Kingdom was amongst the first countries in the region to host national dialogues to anticipate what the future of work holds in store, and to involve national partners in preparing for all eventualities and forging the necessary policy tools,” Jaradat said.
“The dialogue forum will advance Saudi Arabia’s goal to boost private sector-led economic growth, as it moves away from reliance on the hydrocarbon sector and towards a more sustainable economy. This is in line with the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 blueprint to modernize and diversify its economy, with a focus on private investment, new technology, education, youth employment and creating jobs for nationals, including women,” Jaradat continued.
The 8th Social Dialogue Forum is part of a series of national dialogue forums on the future of work launched by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Labour and Social Development Mofarrej bin Saad Al-Haqbani. It brings together officials from the Ministry of Labour and Social Development and its subsidiaries and sister organizations (including the Technical Vocational Training Centre, Human Resources Development Fund, and the women’s employment unit), officials from other government institutions, employer representatives from the Council of Saudi Chambers, heads of private-sector businesses including businesswomen, workers’ representatives from the Founding Committee of the Federation of Labour Committees, and a representative from the Shura Council.
This forum follows on from a national dialogue forum held last May under the title “Work, Society and Decent Work for all,” which brought together Saudi worker, employer and government representatives.
Minister Al-Haqbani told journalists in May that the first dialogue forum allowed the ministry to receive the views of a wide range of stakeholders, which would translate into benefits for the public and private sectors. He was quoted as saying that Vision 2030 will only succeed if all Saudis are involved in the process of building the future of work in the Kingdom.
“Saudi Arabia is making great strides in preparing for the challenges and uncertainties the future of work holds not only for the Kingdom, but for all in the region and beyond,” said ILO Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat.
“The Kingdom was amongst the first countries in the region to host national dialogues to anticipate what the future of work holds in store, and to involve national partners in preparing for all eventualities and forging the necessary policy tools,” Jaradat said.
“The dialogue forum will advance Saudi Arabia’s goal to boost private sector-led economic growth, as it moves away from reliance on the hydrocarbon sector and towards a more sustainable economy. This is in line with the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 blueprint to modernize and diversify its economy, with a focus on private investment, new technology, education, youth employment and creating jobs for nationals, including women,” Jaradat continued.
The 8th Social Dialogue Forum is part of a series of national dialogue forums on the future of work launched by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Labour and Social Development Mofarrej bin Saad Al-Haqbani. It brings together officials from the Ministry of Labour and Social Development and its subsidiaries and sister organizations (including the Technical Vocational Training Centre, Human Resources Development Fund, and the women’s employment unit), officials from other government institutions, employer representatives from the Council of Saudi Chambers, heads of private-sector businesses including businesswomen, workers’ representatives from the Founding Committee of the Federation of Labour Committees, and a representative from the Shura Council.
This forum follows on from a national dialogue forum held last May under the title “Work, Society and Decent Work for all,” which brought together Saudi worker, employer and government representatives.
Minister Al-Haqbani told journalists in May that the first dialogue forum allowed the ministry to receive the views of a wide range of stakeholders, which would translate into benefits for the public and private sectors. He was quoted as saying that Vision 2030 will only succeed if all Saudis are involved in the process of building the future of work in the Kingdom.