Saudi Arabia — a major foreign job destination — has planned to study the worker market in seven source countries including Nepal to streamline the recruitment process. The destination will conduct a worker market survey and recruitment process in India, Pakistan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The Saudi Arabian government is conducting the study to ensure the recruitment of quality workers, Arab News has reported, quoting labour minister Adel Fakeih. “It aims at improving productivity and minimising the work problems arising between foreign workers and employers,” he said.

Labour Ministry has contracted AwalNet to conduct the study in seven source countries and test the skills of workers according to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) standard. According to Arab News, the study and skill-test project is worth around Saudi Riyal six billion (Rs 142.87 billion).

About 350,000 Nepali migrant workers are working in the destination. The job market has hired about 476,608 workers in the last two decades through official channels. According to the Department of Foreign Employment, Saudi Arabia hired 88,387 Nepalis in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year.

“The new move will ensure compliance of workers’ skills with the contracted jobs and lay down appropriate measures and regulations to protect the rights of the migrant workers as well as employers,” he said, adding that the change could make Saudi Arabia one of the best countries in attracting qualified workforce.

According to the Labour Ministry of the destination, workers do not have to show any certificate or qualification of their skills but have to sit for an AwalNet test. Saudi Arabia will launch the e-skill test in India from next year and will expand it to other countries within a year.

GCC countries Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman will also adopt the system if the practice gives better results in Saudi Arabia.

Published on: 17 June 2012 | The Himalayan Times