RIYADH — The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has started applying the first phase of the decision to approve documenting the contracts of the localization initiative of operation and maintenance in public entities as an electronic service within the Qiwa platform. MHRSD said that the first phase of implementing the decision, which began Dec. 1, 2023, includes giant establishments, while the second phase will include large establishments starting from June 1, 2024. As for the third phase, it will begin on Dec. 1, 2024 and includes all other sizes of establishments. The decision aims to follow up on the localization of operation and maintenance contracts in public entities, in addition to the extent to which establishments adhere to the targeted localization rates in those contracts. It also aims to increase the participation opportunities of Saudi men and women in the labor market. The decision will be applied over establishments contracted with government agencies and companies in which the state contributes a percentage of at least 51%. This will include several contracts, which are: operation, maintenance, city cleaning, road operation and maintenance, catering, in addition to the information technology operation and maintenance contracts. The decision obligates the establishments who have operation and maintenance contracts with the public entities to submit the contracts' data on the electronic platform (Qiwa), through the service of localization of operation and maintenance contracts. It is noteworthy that the decision was issued in July 2022 by the Minister of MHRSD Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi, who directed the approval of the service of documenting the contracts of the localization initiative of operation and maintenance in public entities to become an e-service within the electronic services provided by the ministry through the "Qiwa" platform.
