RIYADH, 4 July — Government pressure on the private sector to train young Saudis has resulted in an increase in enrolment at a two-month-long summer training program which began at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry this week. Over 350 trainees lined up for this year’s training program. Their number stood at 250 last year.

Hussein Al-Athel, secretary-general of RCCI,  told Arab News that the trainees — all students — are being given courses in English language, computer use, accountancy, secretarial jobs, administration of first-aid treatment, and hotel and travel industry. The program is being supervised by the chamber’s Training and Development Center.

“We have already signed contracts with the Institute of Public Administration and private institutes for supplying tutors. Besides the training program, lectures will be held every Wednesday for the benefit of the trainees,” Athel said.

The courses are held in two shifts  — from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. Athel said the program was scheduled in such a way that the trainees do not turn up late.

“And if they do, SR25 will be deducted from their monthly allowance of SR500. However, the penalty will be waived if the trainee produces a medical certificate or gives a genuine reason for his absence. The whole idea is to instill discipline among the trainees and to create in them a sense of responsibility,” the secretary-general said.

The entire expenses of the training program including SR500 per month to each trainee are being borne by the private sector. Since the launch of the program in 1983, a total of 3,843 students, including this year’s batch, have been trained.

The chamber has also set up an employment center to help those completing the training.

The center coordinates with private sector establishments to identify job vacancies and provide suitable candidates. A few of the trainees have already landed jobs, Athel said.

According to official reports, the Labor Office in Riyadh has summoned 185 establishments before a committee at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs to explain their failure to implement the Saudization program. The labor officials inspected some 2,000 private establishments in Riyadh during the past few months and noted that there were only 16,908 Saudis working in these establishments as against 123,151 expatriate employees.

According to the Manpower Council, the unemployment rate among Saudis has reached 14 percent.