Obligation of Private Sector E...

The issue of qualifying youth for the labor market is a vital concern for every country seeking to develop and enhance the efficiency of its workforce. In this context, His Excellency the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development issued a ministerial decision related to obligating private sector establishments to provide cooperative training opportunities for students as part of their study plans. This decision comes in the context of enhancing youth opportunities for effective integration into the labor market and developing their practical skills.

Engineer Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, issued a ministerial decision obligating private sector establishments with 50 or more employees to provide cooperative training for students. This is in accordance with the approved curriculum of the educational institution to which the student belongs and the requirements of the labor market.

The decision aims to enhance the quality and efficiency of training programs in private sector establishments, sustain opportunities for development and growth, and empower university, college, and institute students to train in establishments to qualify them for the labor market. This contributes to improving their performance and enhancing their practical skills by providing them with the necessary knowledge and skills required for their academic achievement, increasing their chances of obtaining suitable employment opportunities after graduation.

The decision emphasizes the need for a documented and time-specific contract between the trainee and the establishment, subject to labor law. It includes the type of necessary skills, the profession to be trained on, and the stages of training. The establishment must also issue a certificate of completion to the trainee after the end of the cooperative training period.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has issued a procedural guide that explains all the details of the decision, available on the Ministry's website. Establishments are encouraged to comply with the procedures outlined in the decision to avoid regulatory penalties for violators.

It's worth noting that the decision was made in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the General Organization for Technical and Vocational Training, and the Human Resources Development Fund. The Ministry has also conducted meetings and workshops with targeted private sector establishments, aiming to improve the knowledge, skills, and training of the workforce to enhance stability and productivity in the labor market.