Riyadh, October 20, 2024 – The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development continues to make significant strides in enhancing the quality of labor market outputs in Saudi Arabia through the ongoing implementation of the Professional Accreditation Program. Since its launch, the program has achieved remarkable success, accrediting over 209,500 workers across more than 1,000 occupations worldwide. This initiative aims to ensure that expatriate workers possess the necessary skills and qualifications for their respective professions, in alignment with the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations.
The Professional Accreditation Program is designed to create a more efficient and high-quality work environment by verifying the professional competencies of foreign workers. By enforcing specific standards, the program aims to streamline the employment process and elevate the skill levels of the workforce in various sectors. It includes two key services: “Professional Verification” and “Professional Inspection,” each functioning through specialized mechanisms and methodologies.
The “Professional Verification” service is targeted at high-skill jobs and focuses on verifying the qualifications, skills, and certifications of expatriate workers. This verification process is fully automated, facilitated by a unified electronic platform, and has a maximum processing time of 15 working days. By ensuring that these workers meet the required professional standards, the service helps maintain a high level of job performance and competence within the Kingdom.
On the other hand, the “Professional Inspection” service caters to workers in medium and low-skill professions that do not require academic degrees. This service assesses the practical and theoretical skills of expatriate workers through tests conducted both before and after their arrival in Saudi Arabia. By rigorously evaluating workers in these categories, the program ensures that even lower-skilled professions adhere to required standards of competency.
Employers are supported through more than 127 professional examination centers, located both inside and outside the Kingdom, allowing them to assess their workforce effectively. Since its inception, the program has extended its services to five major workforce-exporting countries: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Egypt. These countries represent a significant portion of expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia, and the program continues to expand its reach to include additional countries and a growing number of professions.
The Professional Accreditation Program plays a vital role in raising awareness among employers, government bodies, and private institutions about the importance of hiring qualified expatriate workers. By ensuring that workers possess the necessary knowledge and skills, the program aims to improve the overall quality of job performance and contribute to a well-regulated labor market. Ultimately, this initiative supports the creation of a skilled workforce capable of contributing to the Kingdom’s economic growth while maintaining a trusted and competent labor environment.