PAM ups skills filter for expats

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 24: The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Takamol Holding – a Saudi company, in order to strengthen coordination and exchange expertise in fields related to the labor market.

PAM Director Rabab Al-Osaimi confirmed that the agreement is a new step towards developing the labor market in Kuwait and benefiting from Saudi expertise in developing smart electronic platforms. She said PAM is keen on providing more advanced and flexible online services, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, and establishing professional standards for measuring and testing the skills of expatriate workers before they are recruited to Kuwait. She stated that the signing of the MoU is in compliance with the directive of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef to strengthen cooperation and exchange expertise with specialized entities. She disclosed that the agreement covers the development of electronic systems according to the latest global technologies, updating labor market policies, and implementing a system for accrediting the skills and professional qualifications of workers.

She pointed out that skilled labor is one of the important aspects of the agreement, affirming that clear mechanisms for measuring the skills that companies need and their proper implementation will prevent the haphazard recruitment of workers. She added that selecting workers based on the required skills will have a positive impact on productivity and efficiency in the labor market, and consequently, the Kuwaiti economy. She stated that the implementation of the skills measurement and testing system will combat visa trafficking by regulating the recruitment process and aligning it more closely with the actual manpower needs of the labor market and the required skill level.

On the other hand, Ahmed Al- Yamani, CEO of Takamol Holding, confirmed that the agreement is in line with the efforts of PAM to develop and restructure the labor market, while ensuring the recruitment of skilled workers based on the actual manpower needs of the employers.

He stated that the partnership begins with the development of the unified Kuwaiti professional guide, for which PAM has already made significant progress. He indicated that achieving these goals depends on developing a professional guide, according to the skills needed by the labor market and ensuring that the workers have these skills. He revealed that Takamol manages around 200 labor testing and screening centers in several labor-exporting countries, while tests are conducted electronically in countries with limited labor resources. He said the company has so far conducted about 1.5 million tests for workers who moved to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries through various centers worldwide. He added that the services of the company in the field of certificate and skills verification cover about 160 countries.

By Fares Ghaleb Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff