Saudi ministry launches flexible work system

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has launched the “flexible work system” targeting private-sector Saudi individuals and facilities. The new system will allow flexible contractual regulation to help job seekers work on an hourly basis while helping them supplement their income and protect the rights of employees and employers.

Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi said that the system would contribute to supporting the Kingdom’s economy and overcome the current crisis while continuing to achieve the goals set by Vision 2030 by increasing the participation of national cadres in the labor market and reducing unemployment rates.

The system aims to provide job seekers with opportunities and develop their skills and expertise to eventually become full-time employees. The program will work on reducing the number of irregular migrant workers in the shadow economy, as well as boost the participation of citizens and reduce the unemployment rate, with an online portal launched three months after issuing the decision. Saud Alhokail, a human resources expert, said that the new law would have a positive impact on the labor market and create thousands of jobs. “Governing the employer-employee relationships in such contractual contexts will definitely reduce labor disputes and enhance the performance of the market,” he told Arab News. “Both employers and employees will benefit from this law, which will reflect positively on the unemployment index,” he said. The flexible labor system will provide wider options for businesses to choose laborers who can do urgent work without having to issue a long-term contract for temporary or seasonal jobs. The system will allow companies to meet unexpected needs for labor. Alhokail, who has been in the field for more than 12 years, said that the system offered a good opportunity for anyone who wanted to make extra money on the side legally.