Saudi Arabia’s workplace reforms have brought results for employees

The world has just marked the UN’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

This was a moment to reflect on something fundamental: every worker should be able to do their job in a safe, healthy, and respectful environment. When that’s the case, people thrive, economies are more productive, and societies grow stronger.

Across the globe, the world of work is undergoing rapid change. Technological advances, shifting industry demands, and increasing environmental pressures are reshaping how people work and the nature of the risks they face. These challenges – and opportunities – are global in nature and addressing them requires global cooperation.

Saudi Arabia recognizes that progress in occupational safety and health depends on strong international partnerships, dialogue, and collaborative development. That is why we were proud to host the seventh Global Occupational Safety and Health Conference under the theme ‘The Future of Occupational Safety and Health’ (GOSH7) in Riyadh. Organized by the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, the event brought together experts, government leaders, employers, and workers from around the world to share ideas, exchange best practices, and shape practical solutions.

GOSH7 is a vital platform for collaboration on workplace safety and health. It helps countries, companies and the specialists learn from each other, solve shared challenges, and raise the level of safety in workplaces everywhere.

This year’s program included the Global Occupational Safety and Health Hackathon, which encourages innovators and subject matter experts to develop new, real-world safety solutions. By using GOSH7 as a launchpad, the hackathon supports our national goals of creating a more innovative, competitive economy under Vision 2030.

At the national level, Saudi Arabia is focused on building a strong and consistent approach to safety in every workplace. In 2017, we launched the National Strategic Program for Occupational Safety and Health as a part of the National Transformation Program.

One of its major achievements was the development of The National Policy for Occupational Safety and Health, which was approved by the Council of Ministers in 2021.

This policy ensures safety rules apply to all workers and all sectors equally. It guarantees the right to a safe and healthy working environment and focuses on preventing harm before it happens, by promoting awareness, training, and research, and by identifying and reducing risks at their source. The policy supports a national culture of prevention, where safety is everyone's responsibility.

In 2022, the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health was established, bringing together 16 government entities, including representatives of employers and workers. The Council is responsible for governing occupational safety and health at the national level, coordinating roles and responsibilities among the relevant stakeholders and overseeing the implementation of the requirements of The National Occupational Safety and Health Policy across the country.

We are already seeing the results. Since 2018, occupational injury rates in Saudi Arabia have dropped by more than 41.8 per cent, and fatalities have fallen from 3.83 to0.94   per 100,000 workers by the end of 2024.

More than  28,000new jobs have been created in the safety and health field. We have rolled out 17 national awareness campaigns, expanded e-learning programs, and made training and consultation more accessible to employers and workers alike.

We are proud to work alongside the International Labour Organization, which has supported the development of standards and regulations, enhancing workplace safety across key industries and contributing to a healthier and more productive work environment. Working with the ILO, we are further reinforcing labour inspections and occupational safety and health systems to ensure robust protections for all workers and provide channels for them to raise any concerns.

These are just some of the tangible steps we have taken as part of our commitment to promote decent work for all in the Saudi labour market. Improving working conditions is a central pillar of the National Strategic Program and reflects our dedication to fairness, safety, and opportunity for all.

Saudi Arabia’s message is clear – let’s work closer than ever before to create safer, healthier, and more resilient workplaces that benefit workers, businesses, and societies everywhere.