New Delhi, June 15, 2023.

As a part of the recent mandate by Saudi Arabia for Indians seeking employment in the country, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the knowledge and implementation partner of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), conducted a Skill Verification Programto transform the workforce and limit the recruitment of unskilled workers. The skill assessment process comprisesa competency-based examination, including both theoretical and practical components, conducted at NSDC-accredited international assessment centers. Candidates specializing in their respective fields undergo rigorous evaluation, following which they received a joint certification from TakaMol and NSDCI validating their skills and qualifications.

To ensure the program's effectiveness, ten international test centers across Delhi, Mumbai, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal have been accredited as authorized centers for candidates' skill tests and assessments. In the coming time, more of these centers are expected to be introduced in several other states includingRajasthan, Assam, Ahmedabad, Karnataka, amongst others. The test centers play a crucial role in verifying the qualifications and skills of professionals seeking job opportunities in Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC and MD, NSDC International, said, “The Skill Verification Program is indeed a significant stride towards not just upskilling job seekers, but also creating a highly competent and effective workforce that can secure employment opportunities worldwide, leading to exponential economic growth and prosperity. With this program, we are ensuring that professionals seeking jobs in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia have attained the requisite qualifications, and our stringent evaluation and certification procedures empower individuals with industry-relevant skills to access international opportunities. Alongside training and coaching initiatives, the Skill Verification Program compliments our efforts towards developing a highly capable and efficient workforce.”

Starting from June 1, 2023, the Skill Verification Program was mandated across five trades in India, including Electricity, Plumbing, Automotive Electrician, HVAC, and Welding. In the upcoming months, the mandate would be applicable to more such jobs and will also cater to new trades like plastering, tiling, masonry, carpentry, automotive mechanical, shuttering carpentry, car body repair, mechanics, communications, blacksmithing, painting, auto primary service, mining technician, stone crushers, mining digger, metal forming technician, metal processing, amongst others. This mandate guarantees that professionals aspiring to work in Saudi Arabia meet the required standards by undergoing competency-based exams to verify their qualifications and skills.

The Skill Verification Program was launched by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) in Saudi Arabia on July 1, 2021, in collaboration with TakaMol Holding Pvt. Ltd. Since then, the program has been gradually implemented across eight countries, including India. In October 2019, NSDCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TakaMol Holding to undertake skill harmonization and benchmarking, resulting in the benchmarking of 17 occupations.

Building on this foundation, NSDCI and TakaMol Holding entered into a commercial agreement in March 2022. The partnership led to the successful launch of a pilot project in December 2022, involving 1,000 Indian candidates across six benchmarked occupations, including welding, electrician, plumbing, HVAC, automotive electrician, and automotive mechanic.