Major workforce shift: Saudi Arabia plans new test for employees

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) in Saudi Arabia plans to introduce mandatory occupational fitness testing for employees across the government, private, and non-profit sectors, including individuals taking up new jobs in these sectors.

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According to a report by the Saudi Gazette, these tests will be conducted under specific conditions.

The ministry has published the National Regulations for Occupational Fitness Tests on the Istitlaa Public Survey platform to gather feedback from the public and stakeholders before enforcing the regulations.

Types of tests

There will be three types of tests for employees: general medical testing, specialised additional testing, and psychological testing.

These tests aim to monitor individual health and promote occupational well-being through pre-employment and periodic employee evaluations. The initiative seeks to reduce work-related accidents and diseases and improve workplace environments in Saudi Arabia.

Framework for health assessment

The regulations are designed to establish a comprehensive framework for assessing employees’ physical and psychological fitness, ensuring they can perform their duties safely and effectively.

The testing framework aligns with national standards and international best practices. It aims to reduce occupational injuries and diseases, enhance worker fitness, and ensure job performance safety.

Who the regulations apply to

The regulations apply to all employees in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. This includes:

• New hires before appointment
• Current employees under specific conditions, including:
  • After an occupational injury
  • Upon return from extended medical leave
  • When there are doubts about the employee’s ability to perform duties
  • When the job requires periodic medical examinations
  • When an employee changes roles or professions
  • If the work environment changes
  • When new equipment or machinery is introduced
  • Upon retirement, if the worker was exposed to hazardous substances such as asbestos

These regulations do not apply to medical examinations unrelated to job duties.

Pre-employment medical examinations

The regulations outline procedures for medical examinations for those in high-risk roles, standardise examination forms, and define periodic and exceptional examinations suitable for each profession. They also provide a comprehensive health database for all workers and promote compliance with local and international occupational safety standards.

Who conducts the medical examinations?

Occupational fitness assessments must be carried out by a specialized team, supervised by a certified occupational medicine specialist accredited by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and registered with the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health.

Employment categories after medical testing

Following the pre-employment examination, candidates will be classified as:

• Medically fit and permitted to practice the job
• Medically fit with restrictions or considerations, including time limitations
• Medically unfit, with restrictions or considerations, including time limitations

If a worker fails to meet fitness requirements in a periodic test, they will be prohibited from continuing in their current role, and management must take steps to reassign them.

Objection to test results

Employees have the right to object to test results within 30 days of notification. An independent review committee comprising specialists in occupational medicine and related fields will issue a decision within 15 days of receiving the objection.