Protecting workers' rights with modern technologies: A pioneering Saudi vision
His Excellency the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Engineer Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, headed the delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participating in the 114th session of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland. In his opening address to the conference's plenary session, His Excellency emphasized that the Kingdom places the protection of workers' rights at the forefront of its development priorities, utilizing the latest digital technologies and artificial intelligence to build a fair and sustainable work environment that aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
Artificial intelligence as a pivotal tool in protecting workers' rights
Minister Al-Rajhi explained that the current digital revolution presents new challenges and opportunities in global labor markets. He noted that the responsible application of artificial intelligence directly contributes to improved productivity and the provision of decent working environments. In this context, the Kingdom's efforts in launching advanced digital platforms such as the "Qiwa" platform and the "Wage Protection Program" stand out. These platforms rely on predictive analytics to identify risks and detect violations early, thus ensuring the protection of workers' rights and mitigating labor disputes before they occur. This digital system currently serves more than two million establishments and over 12 million workers in the Saudi private sector.
The structural transformation process in the Saudi labor market
The Kingdom's participation in this international forum highlights the long history of legislative and regulatory reforms that the Saudi labor market has undergone in recent years. Historically, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has worked to modernize labor laws and eliminate many traditional contractual restrictions, aiming to improve the contractual relationship between employers and employees. The Kingdom's declaration of 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence is a natural extension of this ambitious strategy, as Riyadh seeks to lead the regional and international digital transformation in the regulation of labor sectors, thereby enhancing the attractiveness of the Saudi market to both local and international talent.
The importance of international cooperation to meet future challenges
At the international and regional levels, the International Labour Conference is of paramount importance as it brings together the three social partners (governments, employers, and workers) to formulate flexible and sustainable labor policies. The report of the Director-General of the International Labour Organization, entitled “A Critical Stage: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Decent Work,” was warmly welcomed by the Saudi delegation. Al-Rajhi emphasized that addressing rapid technological changes requires concerted international efforts and the exchange of expertise to prevent the digital divide between countries from widening. He stressed that genuine investment must focus on developing and protecting human skills to ensure a just transition to a knowledge-based economy.
