Saudi implements 'verification test' for expats to check skills of professional workers; All you need to know

Saudi Arabia has initiated a new program "Professional Verification"aimed at verifying skills of professional workers in the kingdom. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Technical and Vocational Training Corp launched the vocational testing program on Sunday.

It aims to ensure the efficiency of professional workers in the Saudi labour market and to establish that those recruited to Saudi Arabia are professional workers with the necessary basic skills and to prevent unqualified people from entering the labour market.

The project also aims to improve the quality of work of professional workers in the Saudi labour market, increase productivity

The HRSD Ministry has urged all the institutions in the kingdom to gradually begin testing the professional employees. The ministry said that the program will be made compulsory from July 2021 onwards, depending on the size of the establishments.

Here is all you need to know about the verification test

♦An exam will be conducted in two stages in which expats wishing to work in the Kingdom must pass a test in their respective countries,in collaboration with international examination centres to prove their skills.

♦The expat will also require to pass a similar test in the kingdom in collaboration with recognized local examination centres to obtain a Saudi work visa.

♦Additionally, the visa stamping system will also be linked to the verification program.

♦It means those seeking professional employment opportunities will only be stamped visa when they clear the vocational skill test.

♦The program is one of the accreditation programs which aims at enhancing skills of the workforce in the Saudi labour market to meet international standards.

♦The Ministry has advised all the institutions to make use of the professional verification program on the skilled workers during the optional period starting from March 8, 2021 through the https://svp.qiwa.sa link.