HRSD to start today the first implementation phase of the “Professional Verification” Program

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) has launched the first implementation phase of the Professional Verification program starting today (Thursday 1 July 2021), in order to verify the necessary skills required for workers to perform their jobs effectively. This comes in the form of a mandatory plan for all entities in Saudi Arabia, after 4 months of the program’s official launch, the plan will be executed gradually depending on the size of the entity, and it will target 1000 specialized professions belonging to 23 job families as per the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations and will be completed by early 2022.

On this occasion, H.E. Dr. Abdullah Abuthnain, HRSD Vice Minister for Labor, asserted that HRSD will continue its commitment and efforts towards developing the labor market and improving the quality of workers in the Kingdom through the implementation of all necessary measures. He added that HRSD is working on developing the skills of the workforce in Saudi Arabia according to international standards to meet the needs of the Saudi labor market.

The Professional Verification program will include practical and theoretical examinations in the workers’ specialized fields, and will target more than 1000 specialized professions belonging to 23 specialty fields as per the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations. The program has two separate tracks: one track aims to examine all skilled workers in their countries, in cooperation with selected international examination centers, before their arrival to the Kingdom. While the other track aims to examine existing skilled workers in Saudi Arabia in cooperation with certified local examination centers.

Concerning the enforcement plan, it is scheduled to start with giant facilities, which have 3000 or more workers, then large facilities (from 500 to 2999 workers), then medium facilities (between 50 to 499 workers), then small enterprises of category (A) that employ from 6 to 49 workers, and finally small establishments category (B), which employ from one to 5 workers.

All relevant establishments shall conduct the examination for their skilled workers by registering via the program’s official website: https://svp.qiwa.sa/.

HRSD launched the Professional Verification Program on 7th March 2021 in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation.