MLSD and PTA sign MoU to nationalize education transport drivers in various regions of the Kingdom

H.E. Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Development Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Abuthnain and President of the Public Transport Authority (PTA) Dr. Rumih Al-Rumaih signed on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding on the nationalization of education transport drivers, held at the ministry’s HQ, Riyadh The signing ceremony was attended by H.E. Minister of Labor and Social Development Dr. Ali bin Nasser al-Ghafis and H.E. Minister of Transport Mr. Dr. Nabil bin Mohammed al-Amoudi, chairman of the board of the directors of the PTA. Dr. al-Ghafis who welcomed the minister of transport during the ceremony emphasized the ministry seeks to regulate the labor market through a number of initiatives and programs that empower Saudi men and women to seize job opportunities amid provision of productive, motivating and stable environments, aiming to raise the contribution of Saudi nationals to the Saudi economy. The minister of labor and social development stressed the ministry is forming a strategic partnership with government and private sectors which include the transportation ministry and the labor and social development ministry along with its affiliated entities, in order to design support programs for Saudi nationalize in all regions of the Kingdom and empower them in the workforce. Dr. al-Amoudi expressed his happiness over the partnership between the two entities, saying the authority is keen on contributing to the nationalization process as part of its obligation towards the nation and as part of its top priority that should be everyone’s responsibility. The transport minister added one of the important objectives for the authority is to make land transport jobs attractive for Saudi men and women as it seeks to regulate the transport sector not as only a source of job opportunities but as an opportunity to raise the effectiveness and quality of services provided in addition to curbing cover-up business in the sector. Dr. al-Amoudi added the nationalization of transport sector and the empowerment of Saudi women in the field would raise quality and create job opportunities for women in particular, as per Saudi Vision 2030 and other national transformation programs. Additionally, Dr. al-Amoudi extended his thanks to Dr. al-Ghafis for his support and responsiveness to the authority’s initiatives. Meanwhile, the president of PTA said the plan to nationalize commercial transport jobs will target all drivers in the education system (schools and universities) and those who transport female teachers. The first phase of the enforcement will include most cities and regions of the Kingdom for the upcoming education year (1439-1440 A.H.) while the second phase will target Riyadh, Makkah, Jeddah and Dammam in the year of 1441 A.H., Dr. Al-Rumaih added. The transport sector has more than 12,000 job opportunities with additional 10,000 jobs which have stemmed from the nationalization of car rental sector and third-party taxi booking apps, Dr. Al-Rumaih said as well. Dr. Al-Rumaih also stressed that the authority is taking all measures to make transport jobs attractive for Saudi nationals and limit competition from expat workers, adding it has worked on reducing working hours, asking drivers to hold drive licenses as well as aligning the transport process with tracking systems in order to regulate the sector. The deputy minister for labor and social development clarified that the ministry and its affiliated entities are planning to launch a number of programs and initiatives to raise the participation of Saudi men and women in the workforce in a bid to nationalize various fields, in particular the transport sector. Director- General of the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) Dr. Mohammed bin Ahmed AL-Sudairy attended the signing ceremony alongside Deputy Minister for Nationalization Ghazi al-Shahrani and other officials at MLSD.