Saudi Arabia to stop ‘unfit’ workers from continuing in their professions

Saudi Arabia will introduce mandatory occupational fitness assessments and non-communicable disease (NCD) screenings for employees across all sectors under a phased nationwide rollout aimed at strengthening workplace health and safety.

According to a new guide issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development will initially apply to employees in public-sector entities and non-profit organisations before being expanded to all professions and economic sectors across the Kingdom.

The implementation will take place in three phases, beginning with pre-employment screenings, followed by high-risk companies and establishments, and eventually covering all employers and employees.

Under the first phase, all job candidates will be required to undergo mandatory occupational fitness and NCD screenings before starting work. Employers must conduct the assessments and upload the results to an approved electronic system within the first six months after the regulations take effect.

The second phase, which will run for 12 months after the completion of the first stage, will extend the screening program to existing employees, prioritising workers in high-risk industries. During this period, all establishments will also be integrated into the government's electronic reporting system.

In the final phase, the regulations will apply to all entities and economic sectors across Saudi Arabia, including public-sector organisations, private companies and non-profit institutions. The requirements will cover permanent employees, temporary and seasonal workers, trainees, persons with disabilities and remote workers, regardless of their contractual arrangements.

Under the new framework, employees who fail to meet prescribed occupational fitness requirements will not be permitted to continue practicing their current profession. Employers will be required to reassign affected workers to suitable roles where possible, while allowing additional medical examinations if employees seek to demonstrate their fitness for the job.

The regulations also stipulate that new hires cannot begin work until their examination results have been reviewed and approved by a physician specialising in occupational medicine.

In addition to pre-employment assessments, occupational fitness examinations will be required following workplace injuries or occupational diseases, when employees change professions or work environments, and during periodic health assessments for occupations deemed to carry higher risks.

The ministry said the new guide is intended to standardise occupational fitness assessment procedures, improve compliance with workplace health regulations and strengthen worker protection through a unified national system for occupational health evaluations and disease screening.