TAQAT

Imagine hiring an employee and slashing labor costs of that employee by up to 30 %+ while at the same time, boosting your workforce and supporting national employment initiatives. That's the aim of Taqat - an employment support program that provides financial assistance to eligible employers.

Taqat, which is operated by the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF) has been quietly transforming the employment landscape since July 2019. It has created 22,000+ jobs till April 2020 and continues to grow.

How Does it Work?

Companies and non-profit organizations receive a direct cash injection to hire Saudi citizens. A portion of the salary bill is covered by the government for two full years,

The initiative provides wage subsidies for Saudi nationals hired through the TAQAT platform. These subsidies cover between 30% and up to 50% ( with extra points gained if a company becomes eligible for additional support ) of the employee's monthly salary or pays fixed 3000 SAR monthly.

Additional support providing 10% extra subsidy

Employers who hire women, people with disabilities, or create jobs in underserved areas will receive a bonus of 10%. There is also additional support available based on the needs of a particular industry, job role, or pandemic situation. In addition, small and medium-sized businesses, as well as micro enterprises are eligible for assistance

Operated By HRDF ( Human Resource Development Fund)

Support Duration : 24 months maximum

Subsidy Transfer Process : HRDF (Taqat Platform) >> Company >> Candidate

Salary Range Supported : Starting minimum 4000 SAR to 15000 SAR

Eligibility criteria:

• Saudi citizen
• Between 18 and 60 years old
• Not a current student, according to the Ministry of Education
• Not government employee, employer, or a government or private sector retiree
• Not exceed the maximum support period of 24 months
• Be registered with the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) for the same company.
• The salary of the supported employee cannot be modified after the support request has been approved.
• Not registered with any other GOSI during the support period
• Registered on the unified national employment platform (Jadarat)
• Have a minimum salary of SAR 4,000 and a maximum SAR 15,000
• Support amount is calculated based on the salary registered in GOSI

As per current regulations, companies should submit between these employment timelines to get approval, otherwise it may lead to rejection. Applicants must be registered in social insurance for at least 90 days ( probation period) before an company may submit a support request.

Exception: Between August 7 and September 20, 2024, companies may submit support requests between the 91st and 270th day after the applicant's social insurance registration date, provided that the employee remains with the same employer.

No new support requests can be submitted for an employee at the same establishment until 6 months after they have been removed from GOSI

Employees who have not completed 24 months in previous support programs can continue receiving support, up to a maximum of 3 times. Active beneficiaries of other training programs linked to employment are not eligible

How to apply:

Company Requirements: Establishments must register through the HRDF e-services portal (using their Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development credentials). After registration, follow these steps:

Access the Employment Support Program on the HRDF website: https://www.hrdf.org.sa/

Electronically agree to the terms and conditions

Select the Bank/IBAN

Pathways for Companies

There are two pathways through which Taqat Employment Support Program participants can receive support from the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF):

Fast Support Pathway : Companies may register employees directly without advertising positions. The system verifies an applicant's eligibility and approves or rejects immediately. Upon verification of successful applicants, payments are issued at the end of the month.

Job Advertisement Pathway: In this case, employers post job postings on (Taqat). Candidates apply for jobs, and the system notifies them of their acceptance or rejection. Once a job offer has been accepted, it is sent for approval. After all eligible hires have been verified by HRDF, payments are issued at the end of month.

TAQAT requires employers to post their job openings for a reasonable period of time (7 days for platinum category, 14 days for high green category, and 45 days for medium green and low green category).

Insider tip : Ensure that all documentation and information is provided correctly to speed up the approval process. There are several pieces of information that must be uploaded, including the job title, the basic salary and housing, and the candidate's identification number. If the information provided by company is incorrect or inadequate, an application may be rejected.

TAMHEER PROGRAM

The Tamheer program creates a bridge between academic theory and workplace realities, saving you time and resources, and as a company, you do not have to pay anything to hire graduates. When used strategically, it is more than just recruitment for graduates; it is a partnership in progress with the next generation.

How Does it work?

• Operated By HRDF ( Human Resource Development Fund)
• Duration : 3-6 months
• Subsidy Transfer Process : HRDF ( Tamheer) >>> Candidate
• Salary Subsidy Amount 2000 SAR to 3000 SAR
• Key benefits for companies
• By tapping into the Tamheer talent pool, as a company, you're
• Bringing fresh perspectives to your organization
• Acquiring up-to-date skills aligned with industry trends
• Supporting the Vision 2030 goals of Saudi Arabia
• Salary and Insurance 100 % Subsidized by HRDF

Eligibility Criteria:

• Saudi nationals
• Age Limit 30
• Recent graduates (within two years) from any Saudi or foreign university
• Those not currently employed ( private or government) or registered with GOSI social insurance for at least 6 months.
• Only applied to full time and on site work
• Applicants should have no more than one calendar year of combined work experience in public and private sectors.

The Tamheer Candidate Experience:

Financial Assistance : For graduate diploma holders from technical, health, and administrative institutes and colleges, Tamheer provides SR2,000 a month, while for individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher, Tamheer provides SR3,000 a month. Compensation does not apply to overtime work. Companies can choose to pay more to the candidate chosen for the program.

Diverse Opportunities: Training across various sectors and specializations

Completion Certificate : Participants obtain a certification endorsing their program completion successfully.

DIscontinue : If the trainee wishes to discontinue training before the three month period has finished, she or he may do so in order to obtain another opportunity during the remaining three months. However, certain terms and conditions apply.

Insider tip: To ensure a successful job posting, companies must provide accurate information about the job, salary, city, and other relevant factors. Job postings may be rejected if the company's registration activity does not match the job title requested.

Once a candidate is selected, the company can submit a request to Tamheer with the candidate's start date.

Did you know?

PalmHR Concierge can assist your company with all aspects of Tamheer and Taqat hiring, ensuring compliance, data integrity, and assisting you in getting your company applications approved.