RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking has launched an action plan and a referral mechanism to stop human trafficking and protect labor rights in the Kingdom, said the organization’s Vice Chair Sarah Al-Tamimi.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News at the Top CEO event, which took place in Dubai earlier this month, Al-Tamimi said the action plan was launched two years ago with targets including human trafficking prevention and prosecution measures.
“Trafficking is like any other crime, it’s everywhere,” said Al-Tamimi. “Our goals are to put strong legislation and protection measures in place and raise awareness of the issues.”
When asked about achievements of the action plan, Al-Tamimi said they launched a national referral mechanism, which she described as a “coordination mechanism across government entities to refer potential victims of human trafficking.”
The committee is also working on a number of enhancements in terms of regulations as well as campaigns to spread awareness, Al-Tamimi said. “You need a workforce that’s aware of their rights because they do have immense rights,” she added.
It’s also important to bring labor rights awareness to the private sector, and the committee has facilitated awareness sessions with the Chambers of Commerce, besides training hundreds of recruitment companies, said
Al-Tamimi. “At the end of the day, sustainable practices lead to more profits, more competitiveness, and a more competitive economy as a whole,” she concluded.
