Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) announced that the total number of work contracts concluded through the flexible-work platform (mrn.sa) has reached more than 10,000. The ministry aims to achieve the target of 57,000 flexible-work contracts by the end of 2022.

Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi launched the platform known as Marn in August 2020 as part of the ministry’s initiative to help Saudi workers find part-time and freelancing jobs.

The platform offers hourly-based employment and does not require employers to pay end-of-service benefits. The online platform documents flexible work contracts between employees and employers.

The program aims to create new types of jobs for Saudis seeking employment, and increase their chances of getting flexible jobs to help them integrate into the job market and enhance their skills and expertise to enable them to later become full-time employees.

The ministry said that the flexible-work program would contribute to boosting the national economy at the level of enterprises and individuals to achieve the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by increasing the number of local cadres integrated into the job market, Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper reported.

According to the ministry, the flexible-work system aims to support Saudization, provide job opportunities for the sons and daughters of the country, reduce unemployment rates, and create more job opportunities for male and female citizens with fewer working hours and greater flexibility, in addition to its contribution to meeting the urgent and seasonal private sector needs of Saudi workers.

The most employed professions under this program are salesman, catering salesman, technical services consultant, food service supervisor, and administrative assistant.

The businesses and activities that benefit most from the flexible-work system are general building construction, logistics services, engineering consultancy activities, retail and wholesale sectors, and services of maintenance of buildings, operation of canteens and cafeterias, money exchange centers, design and programming.

The program is keen to support the private sector in meeting its emergency, temporary and seasonal needs for Saudi workers.

The program aims to create a new type of work for jobseekers and increase their chances of obtaining a flexible job so as to enable them to engage in the labor market and raise their skills and expertise, in preparation for their transformation into permanent employees.

The program will also reduce the percentage of illegal foreign workers used by the shadow economy, while raising the participation rate of citizens in conjunction with reducing the unemployment rate.

All age groups of Saudis stipulated in the Saudi Labor Law can benefit from the program, particularly male and female secondary school students, working mothers, or employees, who want to work on an hourly basis and improve their income, in addition to all private sector companies.

Under the system, an employee’s working hours with a single employer should be less than half the total working hours at the firm.