Women employment to go up after intense training

By P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR | ARAB NEWS

JEDDAH: More Saudi women will be employed in the private sector as thousands of them have already got specialized training through the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) to take up important positions in private companies.

“Women account for 42 percent of the 17,000 Saudis trained by the fund,” said Ibrahim Al-Moaiqel. “We want to expand this training program covering all parts of the Kingdom,” he said. In Eastern Province alone, 27 institutions support the fund’s programs. The HRDF has introduced a two-year training program (Maher) for Saudi jobseekers through King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. The program with 20 classes weekly provides intensive training in English language and job-related etiquette including discipline.

“We provide training in areas required by companies such engineering drawing, accountancy, chemical technicians, supervision and management,” said Hussein Al-Attas, manager of the program at KFUPM.

“We started the program with 300 students and now we have 80 who will be graduated shortly. Many of them will be working at companies during the summer to apply what they have learned during the program. We also guide them to select suitable jobs,” Al-Attas said. Meanwhile, Labor Minister Adel Fakeih urged cooperation of employers and experts to devise a new strategy for HRDF to meet the Kingdom’s labor market requirements.

“The ministry is seeking suitable mechanisms to develop HRDF in order to provide proper training to Saudis in a number of specializations required by the job market as well as to find jobs for a large number of highly qualified Saudis,” Al-Fakeih said. He said he was happy with the proposals he received from businessmen in the Eastern Province. “I will personally follow up implementation of those proposals in order to develop the ministry’s activities,” he said.

Asharqiya Chamber Chairman Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid pledged all-out support to the ministry’s efforts to nationalize jobs in the private sector.

He said the chamber would support ongoing efforts to train and employ Saudis in private firms.

Unemployment in the Kingdom is a structural one and is not as a result of a slowing down of the economy, a ministry official said. Lack of harmonization between the requirements of the private sector and educational and training programs was another reason.

“Low wages as a result of the large influx of expatriate workers into the labor market, the private sector’s heavy dependence on expatriate laborers, and the preference of many Saudis to work in the government sector are other reasons,” he said.

Comments

SHERRY NASSIF

Report abuse
thats great, and how will they get to work? will they drive themselves? use public transport? or hire expensive foreign drivers and spend a large part of their salaries on that? just asking.....

BALQEES AL- MUTAWA

Report abuse
yes sherry, it will be like that half of the money, we have to spend on drivers sight. we should ask our self why we go work than??? better to stay at home!!!
It is time let woman drive it help all , but mostly the working woman and they family.

JUST A THOUGHT

Report abuse
After womens we have to arrange for the children job. what they will do at home when mother and father go for job. @sherry Nassif how much you pay to your driver for 16 hour job, still you need to pay a maid salary. We doesn't need to driver but maid is must. Maid will look after childrens, if we have driving permission we can live without worry, Maid is essential although our mens having no problem to stay with maid (non mehram). Justify is allowed for our own benefit. 1. Women drivering is must in case of emergency in night. Ans. Womens of saudi arabia are living alone in night without father, brother , husband and childrens. 2. Going with a non muhrem driver in taxi and personal driver is haram ? ANS. It is allowed to have a young maid infront of their husband, father , brother. No comments from women drivers campainers. 3. Seclusion with driver is not allowed this is unislamic? Ans. But we move in malls and other countries by removing our veils and move like whores wearing un islamic cloths semi nude. Need to look into the mirror before justify wrong things. Many wrong doers will not make the thing right. wrong is wrong.

BASHIR BOKYA

Report abuse
They should be taught to do real work, not just hired for compliance of Saudization rules

A MUSLIMAH

Report abuse
Actually, many employers here provide free transport for employees or a monthly travel allowance- in addition to the monthly wage- as part of the work/job package.
Post your comment

required

required (email will never be displayed)

Please enter the following characters in the box provided (case sensitive). This helps us prevent automated programs from creating accounts and sending spam.

All comments are subject to approval

Terms and conditions

Latest comments