RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s human resources sector experienced significant growth in 2023, with the government"s online Qiwa platform reporting over 10 million individual users benefiting from its services. Initiated by the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Qiwa has emerged as a pivotal tool in the Kingdom’s labor market. It automated services and operations for over 1.2 million establishments during the year, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency. In 2023, the platform processed over 126 million transactions, underscoring its efficiency and widespread adoption. Qiwa’s services, encompassing automated operational and inquiry transactions, aim to streamline processes in the labor sector. It offers over 135 electronic services available around the clock, enhancing the business environment and managerial effectiveness of establishments. Key services provided by Qiwa include visa issuance, contract authentication, employment permit renewals, and work regulation policies, all designed to facilitate quicker and more transparent market procedures. The platform’s success aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, emphasizing its role in transforming and modernizing the Kingdom’s labor sector. Qiwa stands as a testament to Saudi Arabia’s ongoing digital transformation and commitment to improving government service efficiency and accessibility. In July 2023, the ministry approved the adoption of a digital service for documenting contracts in public entities, part of a series of electronic solutions provided through the Qiwa platform. The service aims to monitor the localization of employment and maintenance contracts in public entities as part of the Labor Localization and Maintenance Initiative. The program seeks to raise nationalization rates in public entities and enhance Saudis’ efficiency and skills. This decision applies to various sectors, including employment and maintenance, city cleaning, road operation, catering services, and IT operations. To comply with the decision, establishments having employment and maintenance contracts with public entities must upload contract data onto the Qiwa platform using the dedicated Labor Localization and Maintenance Contracts service. The implementation of this decision will occur in three stages, taking into account the size of the establishments involved.