ASIR, 24 May 2003 — The Saudization campaign continues although it is hampered in many places by insufficiently qualified Saudi applicants or a lack of interest among Saudis for positions they consider unsuitable, Al-Madinah reported.

There is, however, a group of young Saudis who are willing to work but find that there are many obstacles in their way. Job seeker Hilal Asiri told the paper a vacancy in the private sector usually created a flurry of excitement. “But there are many obstacles along the way and it’s the private sector that is creating them,” he said.

He pointed out that many private companies disregarded the law concerning salaries for Saudi staff. “Some of them resort to illegal means to force Saudis to resign or leave the job. Personally, I gave up finding a decent job in the private sector and started my own business.”

Ali Saeed is a university drop-out. “I couldn’t work out what I wanted to do after I graduated,” he said. Instead he began training at a computer institute.

“Like many others, I’m still hoping for a job, but if Saudization isn’t properly enforced, what can I do?”

High school student Bandar Jalalah said giving up hope was counterproductive. “We have to tell the private sector that they will not destroy our dreams,” he said.

“They must find that by employing Saudis in their companies they will help to eliminate unemployment. I hope the new ministers will confront the issue of Saudization head-on.”

Mastoor Al-Shahrani spoke to the paper at the employment office. “I came here to find a job, but it doesn’t look as if there are any,” he said.

He explained that the procedure was complicated. “After we’ve completed the forms, we have to go through an endless process of entering data into the computer in different sections. People who say we should get a job don’t know what we have to go through,” he explained.

The director of the employment office in Asir, Saad Al-Asmari, said the government took employing Saudis in the private sector very seriously. “Yes, some offices are not doing what they should, and we are working very hard to solve the problem. Saudization is our top priority. We are aware of the low salary problems that most Saudis face and we are doing what we can.”