Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labour reviews the Ministry's efforts in combating human trafficking crimes

His Excellency the Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labour, Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Abuthnain, participated today, Wednesday, 24 April 2024 AD, in a dialogue session on "Enhancing Cooperation in Combating Crimes of Trafficking in Persons" organized by the Human Rights Commission with the participation of local and international speakers and specialists, as part of efforts to discuss the best ways to combat and prevent this crime.

During the session, H.E. Dr. Abuthnain stressed that the Kingdom attaches special importance to combating crimes of trafficking in persons, respecting human rights, and preserving the dignity of every individual living on the land of this nation.

During the session, Abuthnain reviewed the efforts of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in the labour market to combat trafficking in persons, pointing out that the Ministry, based on its responsibility in the labour market, has worked to implement and activate the national plan to combat trafficking in persons crimes, which is based on four main axes, namely: (prevention, protection and assistance, prosecution, national, regional and international cooperation), in addition to enacting legislation and policies related to the contractual rights of workers in the Saudi labour market and protecting them from irregular practices, whether trafficking in persons, forced labour or other negative practices and labour crimes.

He explained that the ministry has launched a number of programs aimed at reducing trafficking in person crimes, including the initiative to improve the contractual relationship with the aim of activating the contractual reference in labour relations, the contract documentation program, which has exceeded more than 7 million contracts since its launch, the wages program, which obliges enterprises to pay workers' wages, noting that the high rates of compliance with the program, as well as the "Wedi" program to settle labour disputes, where the reconciliation rate in labour disputes reached 77%.

His Excellency stressed that the Ministry, in cooperation with the Human Rights Commission and the concerned authorities, will continue to raise the efficiency and attractiveness of the Saudi labour market, preserve contractual rights and protect those most vulnerable to trafficking in persons practices.

For his part, Deputy Minister for Control and Development of Work Environment, Mr. Sattam bin Amer Al-Harbi, reviewed the Ministry's supervisory efforts to protect workers in the labour market from crimes and suspected cases of trafficking in persons, pointing out that all cases received by the Ministry are treated with complete confidentiality and referred to the competent authorities, calling on everyone to submit any report that may be suspected of having indicators of trafficking in persons crimes through these channels to take the necessary action by the Ministry.