Saudi Arabia Announces New Rule Before Starting a Job

Saudi Arabia will introduce mandatory occupational fitness assessments and non-communicable disease (NCD) screenings for workers under a phased plan that will eventually cover all professions and economic sectors across the Kingdom.

According to a new guide issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the rollout will take place in three stages. The first phase will require health screenings for job applicants before they begin employment, while later phases will gradually expand the program to existing workers, starting with high-risk workplaces before covering all establishments.

Under the new framework, job candidates will not be allowed to start work until their examination results have been reviewed and approved by a physician specializing in occupational medicine.

The regulations will ultimately apply to public-sector entities, non-profit organizations and private-sector establishments, covering permanent employees, temporary and seasonal workers, trainees, people with disabilities and remote workers.

The guide states that employees who fail to meet occupational fitness requirements will not be permitted to continue working in their current profession. In such cases, employers will be required to take appropriate measures, including changing the employee’s role or profession.

Workers will, however, be allowed to undergo additional examinations to demonstrate their ability to perform the required duties.

In addition to pre-employment screenings, occupational fitness assessments may also be required following workplace injuries or occupational diseases, when an employee changes profession or work environment, or where periodic evaluations are mandated based on the nature of the job.