Launching of Skill Verification Program in Sri Lanka to Ensure ‎Quality Professional Workforce in Saudi Arabia

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) has announced the launch of the Skill Verification Program (SVP) in the Republic of Sri Lanka for five out of the 23 targeted professional specializations. These specializations include plumbing, electricity, automotive electricity, automotive mechanics, and refrigeration and air conditioning.

The SVP expansion into Sri Lanka is part of the ministry’s broader international outreach efforts, following successful launches in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh in recent months. The program’s objective is to verify the skills of workers, improve the quality of professional work, enhance productivity, and curb the influx of unqualified labour into the job market in Saudi Arabia.

The ministry has provided detailed instructions for obtaining the SVP certificate, which involves registering on the SVP portal, scheduling a theoretical and practical test, and confirming details with the test supervisors before taking the examination. Upon successful completion of the evaluation, the professional worker is issued the SVP certificate, which is treated as an additional requirement during the recruitment process.

The SVP is an integral part of the “Professional Accreditation” System, aimed at regulating the job market and elevating the workforce’s quality in line with the labor market strategy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.