The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has completed the first phase of its Professional Verification service, covering 128 countries, as part of the Professional Certification program. The milestone, announced on July 8, 2024, marks a significant step in the Kingdom’s efforts to ensure that expatriate workers possess genuine academic qualifications and the practical experience required by the Saudi labor market. The service operates through a unified electronic platform in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s commitment to labor market reform under Vision 2030.
Context and Background
The Professional Verification service was launched in alignment with Cabinet Resolution No. 195, which mandates the verification of academic credentials and professional experience for expatriate workers entering the Kingdom. This initiative is part of the broader Professional Certification program, designed to regulate the labor market and ensure that only qualified individuals fill high-skilled positions. By covering 128 countries in its first phase, the program demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s proactive approach to international workforce management, setting a benchmark for quality assurance in the region.
The service is fully automated and follows simplified, fast procedures through a unified platform. It verifies the compatibility of academic qualifications with approved standards, such as the Unified Saudi Classification of Professions and the Unified Saudi Classification of Educational Levels and Specialties. This ensures that workers’ credentials match the educational level and field required for their professions, particularly in specialized sectors like engineering and health.
Key Details
According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the first phase of the Professional Verification service focuses on high-skilled professions. The ministry aims to expand the service to cover 160 countries worldwide for all professions, including engineering and health, in coordination with relevant government agencies. This expansion is part of a phased implementation plan that underscores the Kingdom’s dedication to raising the quality of qualifications and skills data for expatriate workers.
The service directly contributes to preventing unqualified expatriate workers from entering the labor market, thereby enhancing productivity and the overall quality of jobs and services. By streamlining verification processes, the ministry seeks to regulate the labor market effectively, ensuring that employers have access to a verified, competent workforce that meets the demands of Saudi Arabia’s growing economy.
Implications and Impact
The completion of the first phase of Professional Verification has significant implications for Saudi Arabia’s labor market and international relations. It strengthens the Kingdom’s position as a destination for skilled talent, ensuring that expatriate workers contribute meaningfully to economic diversification. The cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through a unified platform highlights Saudi Arabia’s commitment to efficient, transparent governance and international collaboration.
Regionally, this initiative sets a precedent for other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries by demonstrating how digital solutions can enhance labor market integrity. Internationally, it reinforces Saudi Arabia’s reputation as a reliable partner in workforce management, attracting global talent while safeguarding national standards. The service also supports Saudi Arabia’s efforts to boost productivity and innovation, key drivers of Vision 2030.
Vision 2030 Alignment
The Professional Verification service is a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals to transform the labor market into a dynamic, high-skilled environment. By ensuring that expatriate workers are genuinely qualified, the Kingdom enhances its economic competitiveness and aligns with the Vision’s objectives of increasing private sector growth and creating a knowledge-based economy. This initiative reflects Saudi Arabia’s forward-looking approach to building a sustainable, globally integrated workforce that supports the nation’s long-term prosperity.
20 Questions
Q1. What is the Professional Verification service?
A1. The Professional Verification service, part of the Professional Certification program, verifies the academic qualifications and practical experience of expatriate workers entering Saudi Arabia. It ensures they meet the standards required by the Saudi labor market through a unified electronic platform.
Q2. How many countries are covered in the first phase?
A2. The first phase covers 128 countries, as announced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development on July 8, 2024. This marks a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s labor market regulation efforts.
Q3. What is the goal of the Professional Verification service?
A3. The service aims to ensure that expatriate workers hold genuine academic qualifications and possess the necessary practical experience and skills required by the Saudi labor market, thereby raising productivity and job quality.
Q4. Which government entities are involved in this initiative?
A4. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development leads the initiative, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through a unified electronic platform supervised by the ministry.
Q5. What legal framework supports this service?
A5. The service aligns with Cabinet Resolution No. 195, which mandates the verification of academic credentials and professional experience for expatriate workers entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Q6. How does the service verify qualifications?
A6. It verifies the compatibility of academic qualifications with the educational level and field according to approved standards, such as the Unified Saudi Classification of Professions and the Unified Saudi Classification of Educational Levels and Specialties.
Q7. Is the service automated?
A7. Yes, the service is fully automated and follows simplified, fast procedures through a unified platform for professional verification, ensuring efficiency and ease of use for applicants and employers.
Q8. Which professions are prioritized in the first phase?
A8. The first phase focuses on high-skilled professions. The ministry aims to expand coverage to include engineering and health professions in subsequent phases, in coordination with relevant agencies.
Q9. How many countries will be covered in total?
A9. The ministry aims to cover 160 countries worldwide for all professions, including engineering and health, as part of the phased implementation plan for the Professional Verification service.
Q10. What is the Unified Saudi Classification of Professions?
A10. It is an approved standard used to categorize professions in Saudi Arabia, ensuring that expatriate workers’ qualifications and experience align with the specific requirements of their intended professions.
Q11. How does this service benefit the Saudi labor market?
A11. By preventing unqualified workers from entering the market, the service raises the quality of jobs and services, enhances productivity, and regulates the labor market to support economic growth.
Q12. What is the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?
A12. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs cooperates with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development through a unified electronic platform, facilitating the verification process for expatriate workers from various countries.
Q13. When was the first phase completed?
A13. The first phase was completed and announced on July 8, 2024, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), marking a key milestone in the implementation of the Professional Verification service.
Q14. Does the service apply to all expatriate workers?
A14. Initially, it targets high-skilled professions in the first phase. The ministry plans to expand to all professions, including engineering and health, as the implementation progresses to cover 160 countries.
Q15. How does this initiative support Vision 2030?
A15. It aligns with Vision 2030 by enhancing labor market efficiency, attracting skilled talent, and boosting productivity, contributing to economic diversification and the creation of a knowledge-based economy in Saudi Arabia.
Q16. What are the Unified Saudi Classification of Educational Levels and Specialties?
A16. These are approved standards used to verify that expatriate workers’ academic qualifications match the required educational levels and specialties for their professions in Saudi Arabia.
Q17. How does the service ensure fast procedures?
A17. The service is fully automated and operates through a unified electronic platform, streamlining verification processes and reducing processing times for expatriate workers and employers.
Q18. What happens if a qualification is not verified?
A18. Unqualified expatriate workers are prevented from entering the labor market, ensuring that only those with genuine qualifications and necessary experience contribute to the Saudi workforce.
Q19. How does this service enhance Saudi Arabia’s global standing?
A19. By setting high standards for workforce verification and collaborating internationally, Saudi Arabia reinforces its reputation as a destination for skilled talent and a leader in labor market innovation.
Q20. What is the next step for the Professional Verification service?
A20. The ministry will continue implementing the plan to expand coverage to 160 countries and all professions, including engineering and health, in coordination with relevant government agencies, further regulating the labor market.
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