RIYADH – The Ministry of Labor and the Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf) have officially launched the ‘remote employment program' so as to increase job opportunities for Saudi women in particular and Saudi men in general in different cities and governorates of the Kingdom. This will open the way for employing citizens in suitable, stable and productive jobs, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Saturday quoting Khaled Aba Al-Khail, director general of Information Center in the Labor Ministry as saying. Aba Al-Khail said that ‘remote employment' includes numerous fields that are specified by the nature of work. He mentioned several fields as an example; translation, programming, accounting, auditing, investment consultancy, human resources, data entry, training consultancy, research, technical support, digital media, sales representative, client service, training and education consultancy, interior designing, wholesale and retail trade, education and personal services, transport, storage, telecommunications and financial and insurance services, among others. Aba Al-Khail stressed that the program is one of the most important in increasing the participation of Saudis in general and Saudi women in particular in the labor market. It is also a tool for serving jobseekers who are looking for work in the private sector. Employees will no longer need to travel to place of work. By introducing this system, the Ministry of Labor is striving to create flexible, diverse and suitable job opportunities required by the business sectors in different regions. He said that the program, which has come as a result of technological advancement, is keen to create a new culture in the local labor market. Jobs will be offered officially in the private sector firms, but they will not require the actual presence of the employee in the firm. The employee can work either in the Hadaf ‘remote employment program' centers or from home, as required by the firms. The contractual relations for freelance workers are organized by a written official contract in which it is clearly mentioned that employees will be working for employers according to the ‘remote employment program'. Aba Al-Khail stressed that it is important that the employee is registered in the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) as a worker in the ‘remote employment program' on the basis of full working hours or part-time in the ‘remote employment program' portal. The ministry has specified the work environment and place. The ministry has given employers two options. First, to work from home. Second, to work from the ‘remote employment program' centers that Hadaf has started in different cities of the Kingdom. The work will be monitored and registered via the ‘remote employment program' portal. Aba Al-Khail said the ‘remote employment program' includes many fields depending on the job nature.
