Labor minister: KSA spends more on education than most OECD countries

Minister of Labor and Social Development Ali bin Nasser Al-Ghafis
Updated 16 October 2017
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Labor minister: KSA spends more on education than most OECD countries

RIYADH: “Human capital is the main focus of development in every society, and giving it sufficient attention is necessary for success and progress. Thus, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 seeks to improve all aspects of the Saudi economy, with human capital development at the forefront,” Minister of Labor and Social Development Ali bin Nasser Al-Ghafis said during the opening ceremony of Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) first HR forum, “Transforming HR: Enabling Vision 2030.”
“Saudi Arabia spends more on higher education than most OECD countries, and this expenditure on tertiary education and training accounts for more than 7 percent of the government’s budget,” Al-Ghafis said.
Al-Ghafis pointed out that human capital is the most valuable asset, which is why every firm strives for employee satisfaction and motivation in an attempt to increase productivity and performance through instilling the value of cooperation and developing a spirit of teamwork.
“Saudi Arabia is taking bold action in this regard, such as those mentioned in the National Transformation Program (NTP) 2020,” he said, “including the development of quality standards as well as vocational and technical accreditation; providing citizens with the necessary knowledge and skills to meet the needs of the future labor market; creating decent job opportunities for citizens; developing the skills of the youth; and empowering women.”
The minister explained that in order to achieve the objectives of the NTP 2020, the ministry has launched several initiatives that support employing citizens, among which are updating Nitaqat nationalization thresholds; developing a campaign for activity correction; redesigning the portfolio of HR development to make it support growth in private sector employment; supporting women’s work programs; introducing new regulations for home nurseries; and creating initiatives that will motivate and develop freelance and part-time work, and teleworking.
“Organizing these forums is necessary for accomplishing the shared goal of comprehensive development. These forums are an ideal opportunity for exchanging knowledge and expertise, as well as discussing matters related to human resources. I look forward to seeing the outcomes of this forum applied to real life, which will act as important building blocks for ensuring the development of a strong economy and achieving the Kingdom’s vision,” Al-Ghafis said.
He also praised SABIC’s role in bringing global HR development experiences to Saudi Arabia and commended the company’s experience in HR development.


KSrelief delivers vital food aid in 6 countries

Updated 22 February 2026
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KSrelief delivers vital food aid in 6 countries

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief distributed 131 food baskets to displaced and returning families in Rabak, White Nile state, Sudan, benefiting 865 people.

In Uzbekistan, the agency delivered 410 food baskets in Samarkand, reaching 1,547 people. The project aims to distribute 6,060 baskets of essential nutrition to 36,000 beneficiaries in 14 provinces.

KSrelief also provided 200 food baskets in Kamenica, Kosovo, benefiting 1,000 individuals as part of the Etaam project, which plans to deliver 8,017 baskets to 40,000 beneficiaries in 30 municipalities.

In Afghanistan, the agency distributed 110 cartons of dates to returnees from Pakistan and Iran at a refugee camp in Kabul province, assisting 660 people. This is part of a project to deliver 300 tonnes of dates to Afghans this year.

KSrelief distributed 765 cartons of dates to vulnerable groups in Moussoro, the capital of Barh El Gazel region in Chad, benefiting 4,590 individuals.

In Benin, the agency delivered 1,130 food baskets, reaching 6,780 people, as part of a project to distribute 7,825 baskets to 47,000 beneficiaries in several regions.