Since its inception from 2019 to 2023, the Saudization program has resulted in the employment of over 160,000 Saudi citizens in the operation and maintenance industry. This reflects the growth of Saudization in the sector, reaching 34.79 percent.
Vital sectors in Saudi Arabia
According to a report issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia, operation and maintenance is one of the most vital and promising sectors in the kingdom. It includes diverse job opportunities in specialized qualitative fields.
The Labor Localization and Maintenance Contracts service initiative aims to provide attractive job opportunities for national cadres in multiple sectors. This includes the administrative, engineering, supervisory, technical, and craft professions. Moreover, it seeks to provide several support and qualification programs, and incentives to improve the work environment. Additionally, it aims to make work environments in Saudi Arabia attractive to these locals, encouraging their professional growth, enhancing their participation in economic development, and achieving the goals of Vision 2030.
The initiative also seeks to raise current nationalization rates, provide job opportunities, and develop the potential of Saudi citizens. It seeks to achieve that through developing specialized rehabilitation and development programs. In addition, it helps maintain and develop current employees in the sector and increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the operation and maintenance sector.
Increasing job attractiveness
The Saudization Guide for Operation and Maintenance Contracts of Government Agencies was applied to all government agency contracts. This includes a number of important elements that contribute to increasing the attractiveness of jobs in this sector, the most prominent of which are:
- Job levels and categories
- Target percentages for Saudization
- Minimum wage for each job
- Training and development
- Job security through transferring employees to alternative contracts
- Monitoring performance
- Fines and non-compliance
Finally, the Saudization efforts aim to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the operation and maintenance sector to attract more nationals.
Read: Davos 2024 kicks off today amid growing geopolitical conflicts
Implementation
Six government agencies are working to implement this initiative: the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development; the Ministry of Finance; the Expenditure and Project Efficiency Authority; the Human Resources Development Fund; the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation; and the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority (LCGPA).
Earlier, the LCGPA in Saudi Arabia announced signing 12 agreements on the sidelines of its participation in the Made in Saudi Arabia exhibition in its second edition as a success partner for this edition.
The agreements included commitments to localize the industry and transfer knowledge. Moreover, they included strategic partnerships and cooperation with several parties.
For more news on the economy, click here.
