RIYADH — The Human Resources Development Fund (HADAF), in cooperation with the Culture Ministry, announced the increase in the percentage of financial support in the Employment Support Program from 30% to 50%, with a maximum of SR3,000, in 160 cultural professions in 286 activities. This aims in order to enhance professional sustainability and achieve job stability in the cultural work sector. The announcement of increasing the support percentage comes in accordance with a study carried out between the two sides following the cooperation agreement concluded earlier, where the cultural professions and their affiliated activities were determined. The objectives of this is to enhance the localization of the sector, supply it with qualified and trained cadres, in line with the aspirations of the wise Saudi leadership and the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, in supporting the localization wheel and achieving job sustainability, and contribute in building an economic system based on the participation of Saudis in different fields in the labor market. The signed agreement in the beginning of 2023 aims to develop human capital in the culture and arts sectors, in addition to enhancing the cooperation in the joint work fields with regard to supporting training and employment in the sector. It also included various fields for joint cooperation between the two parties, the most notable of which is the launch of initiatives that support the national cadres and enhance the professional sustainability for practitioners, amateurs and entrepreneurs in different cultural fields, as well as stimulating the workforce to adopt modern work patterns in many cultural professions. Moreover, the accord calls for holding workshops with the relevant authorities, in order to introduce the programs and initiatives that are supporting the localization of culture and arts sectors. This is in addition to organizing periodic job meetings to enhance the localization and achieve the job stability within the scope of cultural work. This agreement is considered as one of the partnerships that the two parties are working through to achieve their goals, and that in a complementary manner between government agencies in an endeavor to achieve comprehensive national development. The two bodies are distinguished by several things, the Ministry of Culture is considered as the responsible agency for the cultural scene in Saudi Arabia and supervises its various sectors, while HADAF, with its programs, supports the guidance, empowerment and training to contribute to professional sustainability.
