Mar 12, 2021 3 min read

Saudi Arabia Payroll Outsourcing Alert

Saudi Arabia – Professional Verification Program Launched.Saudi Arabia – Professional Verification Program Launched.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) announced on 7 March 2021, the “Professional Verification” program, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation.

The program aims to verify that all skilled workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have the required skills to perform the occupation they were recruited against effectively and will include practical and theoretical examinations in the workers’ specialized fields.

The “Professional Verification” 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.

HRSD urges all employers to begin the verification process for their current skilled workers in the Kingdom, as the verification will become gradually enforced – based on the size of the establishment – starting in July 2021.

As for the other track, the work visas for the targeted positions will be linked to the skilled worker passing the examination in his country and will be enforced on a gradual basis in accordance with a roll-out plan developed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the countries where the employees are travelling to the Kingdom from.

The Professional Verification program is expected to develop the skills of the workforce in Saudi Arabia according to international standards to meet the needs of the Saudi labor market, and it will target more than 1,000 specialized professions belonging to 23 specialty fields as per the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations.

It should be noted, that this program is a part of the Professional Accreditation system, which seeks to regulate the labor market and improve the quality of employment in Saudi Arabia.

HRSD urges all establishments wishing to conduct the examination for their skilled workers during the non-compulsory period commencing on  8 March 2021 to register via the program’s official website: https://svp.qiwa.sa/.

Mercans’ Saudi Arabia Payroll Outsourcing Solutions

While Mercans’ KSA Payroll Outsourcing alerts will allow you to stay on top the latest development in KSA’s payroll regulations, you should still get in touch with Mercans’ KSA payroll outsourcing, compliance, PEO/GEO and BPO specialists for a free consultation on setting up fully compliant payroll and HR functions. Better yet, outsource your payroll and HR activities in KSA to Mercans and our KSA payroll outsourcing experts will ensure that your employees will always be paid on time and in accordance with the KSA regulations.

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