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According to an announcement reported by the Saudi Gazette, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has launched a three-phase plan to make occupational fitness assessments and NCD screenings compulsory for all employees in the kingdom. The initial phase will address pre-employment screenings, with candidates barred from beginning work until an occupational medicine specialist has approved their results. Subsequent phases will first cover high-risk establishments before expanding to every company, sector, public entity and non-profit organisation, the ministry said.
The requirements will encompass permanent, temporary, seasonal, disabled and remote workers, ensuring broad coverage across diverse employment arrangements. Establishments whose staff fail to meet the fitness thresholds must reassign those employees to alternative roles or enable them to undergo additional examinations, according to the plan. Screenings will furthermore be mandated in the event of occupational injuries, contraction of diseases or any shifts in profession and work setting.
A UNDP assessment found that all NCDs cause 23,453 deaths per year in Saudi Arabia, of which 38.2 percent occur prematurely. Ministry of Health statistics place the share of NCDs in overall mortality at 73 percent, highlighting the scale of the challenge the new programme seeks to tackle. The ministry emphasised that the guide aims to standardise procedures, ensure compliance and strengthen worker health and safety through a unified system.
This latest measure builds upon the National Strategic Program for Occupational Safety and Health developed in support of Saudi Vision 2030. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in 2024 introduced the Occupational Health Services project aimed at creating legislation to organise and develop occupational health services nationwide, previous ministry statements show. That project forms one of several initiatives designed to protect workers from occupational diseases and promote safer working conditions.
Implementation of the phased approach will require coordination between employers, medical professionals and regulatory bodies to facilitate smooth transitions and accurate assessments. The inclusion of non-profit organisations and public entities signals the government’s intention to apply uniform standards throughout the economy. Remote and disabled workers receiving equal attention reflects an effort to address health equity in the labour force.
The programme arrives as the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development continues efforts to align labour policies with International Labour Organization conventions, according to earlier ministry statements. Previous initiatives have similarly targeted the prevention of occupational diseases through legislation and training programmes. The phased screenings represent the latest step in this ongoing push to enhance national occupational health standards.
