º£½ÇÖ±²¥

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development recently represented º£½ÇÖ±²¥ at the International Labour Conference in Geneva. In meetings with representatives of governments, employers and workers from around the world, we reaffirmed our belief that international collaboration and the sharing of best practices are critical drivers of sustainable labor market development in the Kingdom.

This commitment was strengthened during the conference with the signing of the third phase of technical cooperation between º£½ÇÖ±²¥ and the International Labour Organization.

The renewed agreement — signed by Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmad Al-Rajhi and ILO Director General Gilbert Houngbo — reflects our shared ambition to promote decent work and build a more resilient and inclusive labor market, prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ has implemented wide-ranging reforms to transform the labor market in line with Vision 2030. This partnership has contributed to significant progress in key areas of the Kingdom’s labor market — from occupational safety to skills development — and has supported greater participation across all segments of society, especially among women and young people.

This renewed collaboration builds on another important milestone: the signing of a memorandum of understanding last month to enable Saudi nationals to participate in the junior professional officers and secondment programs at the ILO, providing them with opportunities to gain international experience.

These initiatives will equip the next generation of Saudi professionals with direct experience in multilateral labor governance, fostering expertise across our institutions.

At the core of these efforts is our belief that labor markets must be built on fairness, safety and shared prosperity. Reforms introduced under Vision 2030 have already produced measurable results. Between 2019 and the end of last year, more than 700,000 Saudis entered private sector employment, taking the total to about 2.4 million.

Today, the country’s overall unemployment is 3.5 percent, with unemployment among Saudi citizens at 7 percent at the end of 2024.

The labor force participation rate among Saudi women now exceeds 36 percent, up from 17.7 percent in 2016, while young Saudis are increasingly benefiting from vocational education, digital skills training and tailored employment services.

At the same time, º£½ÇÖ±²¥ recognizes the global challenges reshaping the world of work — from technological disruption to shifting demographics — and is preparing its workforce through targeted reforms. More than 4 million people have already benefited from such initiatives.

As well as expanding access to the labor market, the country has introduced robust measures to protect all workers, including expatriates. These include improvements to recruitment practices, grievance mechanisms, wage protection and occupational health and safety standards. Furthermore, digital platforms such as Musaned and Qiwa are driving transparency and streamlining key labor processes to promote fair treatment and accountability.

º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s alignment with international labor standards is central to this transformation. It has ratified core conventions, including the ILO’s Convention No. 95 on the Protection of Wages and the 2014 Protocol to the Forced Labor Convention No. 29, and last year strengthened its commitment to worker well-being by ratifying ILO Convention No. 187 on the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health.

The Kingdom recently became the first Arab country to introduce a national policy for the elimination of forced labor, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding rights in the world of work.

Our collaboration with the ILO demonstrates what can be achieved when international partnerships are rooted in shared values and leveraged as part of a transformative agenda.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to deepening international cooperation, including through emerging regional and global platforms. One example is the Global Labor Market Conference, held annually in Riyadh, with its third edition scheduled for Jan. 29-30, 2026. With the participation of leading policymakers, researchers and international organizations, including the ILO, the conference provides a forum to shape labor policies that are inclusive and globally coordinated.

In parallel with these reforms, º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is intensifying efforts to attract highly skilled individuals in critical sectors such as artificial intelligence, entertainment, mining, biotechnology and renewable energy.

Initiatives like the premium residency program and specialized visa pathways for professionals support this ambition, helping position the Kingdom as a leading regional and global hub for innovation, creativity and expertise.

Our commitment to international collaboration through forums such as the International Labor Conference and Global Labor Market Conference, as well as through bilateral engagement, remains steadfast and continues to support our efforts to build a labor market that benefits all: at home, in the region and beyond. As we shape this future, we welcome continued partnership with governments, employers and international institutions to ensure the world of work is built on fairness, resilience and shared progress.

• Dr. Tariq bin Abdulaziz Al-Hamad is deputy minister for international affairs at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.