Latest news with #MHRSD
Zawya
07-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Saudi: MHRSD plans to introduce mandatory occupational fitness testing for employees
RIYADH — The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) plans to introduce mandatory occupational fitness testing for employees in the government, private and non-profit sectors as well as for those who take up new jobs in these sectors. These tests will be carried out under certain specific occasions. The ministry published the National Regulations for Occupational Fitness Tests on the Istitlaa Public Survey platform seeking the viewpoints and opinions of the public and the stakeholders before enforcing these regulations. There will be three types of tests: general medical testing, additional specialized testing, and psychological testing. These tests aim to monitor and follow up on individual health and promote occupational health through pre-employment testing and periodic employee testing. This contributes to reducing work-related accidents and occupational diseases and improving work environments in the Kingdom. The regulations aim to provide a comprehensive framework for assessing the health and psychological fitness of employees and workers to ensure their ability to perform their duties efficiently and safely. The testing framework will be aligned with national standards and international best practices. These include reducing work-related injuries, accidents, and occupational diseases, enhancing the physical and psychological fitness of workers, and ensuring their ability to perform their duties safely and efficiently. The provisions of the regulations apply to all employees and workers in public entities, private sector establishments, and the non-profit sector, including all new candidates prior to appointment, and all workers and employees currently employed. This test applies to employees under certain occasions and these include tests following an occupational injury; upon returning from extended medical leave; when there are doubts about the worker's or employee's ability to perform their work; if the job or profession requires a periodic medical examination; if the worker or employee changes his or her profession; if there is a change in the work environment; if new equipment, machinery, or devices are used, and upon retirement from work if exposed to substances with a long latency period during employment such as asbestos. These regulations do not apply to medical examinations outside the scope of the job or profession. The regulations define the mechanism for pre-employment medical examinations for those working in high-risk professions, standardizes medical examination forms, periodic examinations, and exceptional examinations appropriate to each profession, provides comprehensive databases on the health status of all workers, and improves compliance with local standards, regulations, and international agreements in the field of occupational safety and health. The medical examination for occupational fitness must be conducted by a specialized team under the supervision of an occupational medicine specialist certified by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and registered with the Secretariat of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health. Upon completion of the pre-employment medical examination, the result will be as follows: medically fit and permitted to practice the profession or job for which the candidate is applying; medically fit, with the restrictions or considerations required when practicing the profession for which the candidate is applying, including the duration; and medically unfit, with the restrictions or considerations required when practicing the profession for which the candidate is applying, including the duration. If the occupational fitness requirements are not met after the periodic examination, the workers will be prohibited from continuing to practice their profession, and the supervising management must take the necessary measures to change their profession. The worker or employee has the right to object to the test results within 30 days of notification. An independent review committee, consisting of specialists in occupational medicine and related specialties, will be formed to consider the objections, with a decision to be issued within 15 days. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Saudi Gazette
06-05-2025
- Health
- Saudi Gazette
MHRSD plans to introduce mandatory occupational fitness testing for employees under certain occasions
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) plans to introduce mandatory occupational fitness testing for employees in the government, private and non-profit sectors as well as for those who take up new jobs in these sectors. These tests will be carried out under certain specific occasions. The ministry published the National Regulations for Occupational Fitness Tests on the Istitlaa Public Survey platform seeking the viewpoints and opinions of the public and the stakeholders before enforcing these regulations. There will be three types of tests: general medical testing, additional specialized testing, and psychological testing. These tests aim to monitor and follow up on individual health and promote occupational health through pre-employment testing and periodic employee testing. This contributes to reducing work-related accidents and occupational diseases and improving work environments in the Kingdom. The regulations aim to provide a comprehensive framework for assessing the health and psychological fitness of employees and workers to ensure their ability to perform their duties efficiently and safely. The testing framework will be aligned with national standards and international best practices. These include reducing work-related injuries, accidents, and occupational diseases, enhancing the physical and psychological fitness of workers, and ensuring their ability to perform their duties safely and efficiently. The provisions of the regulations apply to all employees and workers in public entities, private sector establishments, and the non-profit sector, including all new candidates prior to appointment, and all workers and employees currently employed. This test applies to employees under certain occasions and these include tests following an occupational injury; upon returning from extended medical leave; when there are doubts about the worker's or employee's ability to perform their work; if the job or profession requires a periodic medical examination; if the worker or employee changes his or her profession; if there is a change in the work environment; if new equipment, machinery, or devices are used, and upon retirement from work if exposed to substances with a long latency period during employment such as asbestos. These regulations do not apply to medical examinations outside the scope of the job or profession. The regulations define the mechanism for pre-employment medical examinations for those working in high-risk professions, standardizes medical examination forms, periodic examinations, and exceptional examinations appropriate to each profession, provides comprehensive databases on the health status of all workers, and improves compliance with local standards, regulations, and international agreements in the field of occupational safety and health. The medical examination for occupational fitness must be conducted by a specialized team under the supervision of an occupational medicine specialist certified by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and registered with the Secretariat of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health. Upon completion of the pre-employment medical examination, the result will be as follows: medically fit and permitted to practice the profession or job for which the candidate is applying; medically fit, with the restrictions or considerations required when practicing the profession for which the candidate is applying, including the duration; and medically unfit, with the restrictions or considerations required when practicing the profession for which the candidate is applying, including the duration. If the occupational fitness requirements are not met after the periodic examination, the workers will be prohibited from continuing to practice their profession, and the supervising management must take the necessary measures to change their profession. The worker or employee has the right to object to the test results within 30 days of notification. An independent review committee, consisting of specialists in occupational medicine and related specialties, will be formed to consider the objections, with a decision to be issued within 15 days.
Gulf Insider
05-05-2025
- Gulf Insider
African Held for Hajj Permit Violation
Hajj Security Forces have arrested a Ghanaian resident for attempting to transport four women expatriates to Makkah in violation of Hajj regulations and instructions. The man, who was driving a bus, tried to smuggle the women into the holy city without Hajj permits by hiding them in the luggage compartment. The security forces arrested the driver and the passengers, and all were referred to the competent committee to enforce legal penalties against them. Also read: MHRSD: Minimum 10-Day Paid Leave Mandatory For Employees Performing Hajj For First Time 15 hours ago 1 day ago 1 day ago
Gulf Insider
22-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia Tightens Labour Inspection Rules, Allows Repeat Visits For Violators
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has introduced new executive regulations to bolster labour inspections, granting officials the authority to conduct repeat visits to workplaces with frequent or serious Labour Law violations. Under the updated framework, companies found in violation will receive an electronic warning and must resolve the issue within three working days. Failure to do so will result in a formal report and penalties, in line with the ministry's schedule of violations. Employers must also submit relevant information about the violation via the ministry's official email within the same period. Non-compliance will prompt legal action. The regulations aim to promote accountability and ensure safer working environments. Inspectors are empowered to examine machinery, facilities, and safety protocols to verify that occupational health measures are in place. To qualify, inspectors must be Saudi nationals with either a university degree or two years of relevant experience, along with specialized training. They must sign a confidentiality agreement and may not be reassigned or dismissed without approval from the deputy minister or an authorized official. All inspectors are required to carry official ministry-issued ID and present it during site visits. Inspections may occur during any working hours, even in the employer's absence. Prior notice is typically required, unless urgent circumstances justify otherwise. Authorities may access and copy both electronic and physical company records to verify compliance. However, inspections must respect the rights of both employers and workers, with violations recorded only after confirmation and formal notification. Employers will have an opportunity to respond before any action is finalised. The ministry emphasised that inspections will be comprehensive, covering all aspects of the workplace, particularly health and safety, to ensure full legal compliance across sectors.
Gulf Insider
22-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia To Localize 41 Professions In Tourism Sector, Including Hotel Manager And Receptionist
Saudi Arabia announced on Monday the decision to localize 41 professions in the tourism sector in private sector establishments. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, will implement the decision in three phases, of which the first phase will begin on 22 April 2026. This comes as part of the government's efforts to provide more stimulating job opportunities for male and female citizens across the Kingdom. The new Saudization drive will cover 41 leadership and specialized professions, most notably hotel manager, hotel operations manager, hotel control manager, travel agency manager, planning and development manager, tourism development specialist, tourist guide specialist, tourist organizer, hotel specialist, site guide, purchasing specialist, sales specialist, and hotel receptionist. The first phase of implementation of the Saudization decision will begin on April 22, 2026, while the second phase will start on January 3, 2027, and the third and final phase on January 2, 2028. This decision will be applicable to all private sector tourism establishments. The MHRSD has issued a procedural guide that contains details about the decision, including professions that are going to be Saudized, percentages of Saudization and the like on its website so as to inform employers and establishments about the mechanism for calculating Saudization and the prescribed penalties for violators. It is worthy to note that this decision is a continuation of the efforts of MHRSD to raise the percentage of Saudization in professions in order to achieve the objectives of the labor market strategy of supporting national competencies and increasing their employment opportunities in various sectors.
