RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s new Qiwa service aims to create a more attractive environment for investment in the Kingdom, and raise the quality of services provided by governmental and private agencies. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD)’s platform provides a diverse array of services to enhance e-services for the labor sector, to make the market more competitive, and increase productivity within the private sector in line with Saudi Vision 2030. The e-platform consolidates workforce services in one digital location. Through it, expatriate workers in the private sector will not only be able to access and update their contracts with ease, but help them move from one employer to another at the end of their current contracts. Dr. Osama Ghanem Al-Obaidy, a law professor at the Institute of Public Administration in Riyadh, told Arab News: “Investors and businesses will be able to complete transactions relating to the issuance of professional and temporary visit visas and women’s visas. (Qiwa) will enhance the transparency and cooperation between the public and private sectors to promote the labor market in line with Saudi Vision 2030.” Services offered include monthly reports to promote communication between employers and the MHRSD to improve compliance with labor laws and regulations, Al-Obaidy added. Moreover, Qiwa provides e-adviser services which help evaluate businesses electronically and improve efficiency. It also notifies businesses of anything issued by the ministry to avoid violations, defaults, or failure to comply with changing laws and regulations.HIGHLIGHT It also notifies businesses of anything issued by the ministry to avoid violations, defaults, or failure to comply with changing laws and regulations. “This platform is an important step forward by the ministry toward … speeding up decision- making processes to benefit the growth and development of new and existing businesses and attract foreign investments,” Al-Obaidy said. Dr. Majed Al-Hedayan, a senior legal and corporate affairs expert, told Arab News: “The Qiwa platform works … to attract and encourage national and foreign investments, and emphasizes the partnership between the public and private sectors that aims to achieve the diversification goals under Vision 2030.” Qiwa’s e-consultancy services include an interactive dashboard displaying business indicators featuring average wages, employment rates and job sustainability, and a series of preemptive alerts to help businesses avoid delays and violations. The registration of establishments on Qiwa is carried out by an automated system for establishments already registered with the MHRSD. Establishments can subscribe to the platform and benefit from Qiwa’s services through its website.