The lowest quote isn't the most important criterion when choosing a manpower supplier. Here are five criteria that protect your project from delays and compliance risk.
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What Is Manpower Supply?
What Is Manpower Supply?
Key Takeaways
- Manpower supply means the worker stays employed by the supplier while working under your daily supervision.
- The supplier carries payroll, GOSI, and Saudization compliance for the supplied workers.
- It's used for both short-term project labor and long-term outsourced roles.
The basic definition
Manpower supply is a staffing model where a licensed supplier hires, employs and manages workers on your behalf, while those workers report to and work under your direct day-to-day supervision on site.
Legally, the worker's employer of record is the supplier — not your business. That's the core distinction from direct hiring: the supplier carries the iqama sponsorship, GOSI contributions and Saudization ratio for that worker, not you.
What it's used for
- Covering a specific project's labor needs without adding permanent headcount.
- Scaling a workforce up or down quickly as demand changes.
- Accessing skilled or semi-skilled trades your business doesn't recruit for directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between manpower supply and traditional recruitment?
In traditional recruitment, the candidate becomes your direct employee once hired. In manpower supply, the worker stays legally employed by the supplier while working under your day-to-day supervision — the supplier carries payroll, insurance and compliance.
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