The fiscal year 1424/1425 H is considered an exceptional year for the Ministry of Labour because it witnessed several changes in structure and tasks of the Ministry. In that year, the Council of Ministers passed the resolution No. (27) dated on 01/02/1425 H, approving separation of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs into two ministries one for labour and the other for the social affairs. Accordingly, the “Manpower Council” was dissolved, and its authorities were transferred to the new Ministry of Labour, which will also run all activities relating to labour and employee affairs that are currently managed by the “Department of Labour” in the “Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs”, including:
- Enforcement of Labour Law and the relevant regulations.
- Settlement of labour disputes.
- Recruitment of manpower within the private sector.
- Recruitment of expatriate workers in accordance with the Royal Decree No. (34457) dated 22/8/1423 H on organization of work visas.
- All what is related to organization of relations with the Arab and foreign countries, the international organizations, and regional (Arab and international) bodies regarding labour and employee affairs.
The resolution also stated that there should be an organizational study of the Ministry of Labour by the Ministerial Committee for Administrative Organization. Accordingly, the Ministerial Committee for Administrative Organization approved a one-year provisional organizational structure of the Ministry of Labour. Then, a permanent organizational structure was approved.
The Council of Ministers also passed resolution No. (88) dated on 14/03/1425 H approving establishment of the “Deputy Ministry of Labour for Planning and Development” ad transferring the occupied and vacant jobs of the “General Secretariat of Manpower Council”, as well as its funds and equipments to this Deputy Ministry.
Hence, large part of that year was actually a transitional period that included reorganization of the Ministry to be able to perform its mission and role properly and in line with its great responsibilities and objectives.