JEDDAH, 3 August 2005 — After his visit to a slum area in a Riyadh neighborhood three years ago, King Abdullah, crown prince at the time, made it his goal to eradicate poverty and unemployment in Saudi Arabia. The royal family — kings, princes and princesses — has long been known for their charitable work and humanitarian efforts to relieve suffering, but more is being done since King Abdullah emphasized the importance of ending these pressing problems.
On Sunday, King Abdullah was presented with the national strategy for eliminating poverty, which has been under preparation for three years since the king first requested it.
Abdul Mohsen Al-Akkas, minister of social affairs, said the strategy included 19 detailed studies and reports that covered statistics and information on the economic, social, health and education aspects of Saudi Arabia.
The strategy defined poverty and its parameters, indications and distribution in the country. It also studied the economic sides of the problem such as unemployment rates, salaries and dwelling conditions and included a comprehensive evaluation of the efforts and policies undertaken by social security, charity organizations and private charity institutions. The strategy concluded by presenting a number of policies and the vision for treating poverty and recommended the appropriate programs and projects.
This strategy is considered to be the launching stage for addressing the problem of poverty and the start of direct and immediate steps toward solving it. The proposal comes at an ideal moment as the Kingdom is enjoying a period of economic prosperity, providing it with the financial means and capability to implement the foundations for both a short- and long-term strategy.
The government began a major campaign to eradicate poverty after King Abdullah’s visit to a poor area in Riyadh back in November 2002. As part of this campaign the government established a fund to combat poverty which intends to turn the poor into productive citizens, rather than keeping them dependent upon society. It will promote the concept of productive families by financing cottage industries.
The Prince Abdullah Foundation, a charity established by King Abdullah, has embarked on a project to build emergency housing units for the poor in six villages on the Kingdom’s west and east coasts. A nationwide survey revealed that poverty exists in many parts of the Kingdom, often as a result of unemployment.
The survey which was conducted by the Prince Abdullah Foundation for Housing also revealed a growing crime rate in some parts of the country. Drug abuse and smuggling are on the increase in the northern border area and housing conditions in some towns are dire. Officials who conducted the survey blamed unemployment and inadequate social security allowances for the poverty. The officials noted a lack of infrastructure and utility services such as electricity, water, schools and roads in some villages.
Eradicating poverty and unemployment will be enormous challenges for the country in the coming years but King Abdullah expressed his determination to bring an end to these distressing issues. Royal family members, businesses and individuals have responded well to the king’s call and initiated programs and projects for housing, employment and training.
The government launched a number of charitable housing projects in various parts of the country. The projects provide decent housing facilities for those who need them. Recently, SR2 billion was allocated from the budget surplus for the low-cost housing scheme. “The regions that are badly in need of such housing facilities will be given priority,” said Al-Akkas. The project will be implemented in coordination with regional governorates, he added.
The Prince Salman Charitable Housing Project in Riyadh is currently building four housing complexes in the capital. According to Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Masoud, assistant secretary-general of the project, a total of 455 houses will be built under the scheme. The first complex will have 122 houses to accommodate about 800 people. “The second complex is designed to have 126 housing units,” Masoud said, adding that they would be handed over to deserving individuals and families within a few months. Each housing complex is provided with a mosque, cultural centers, shopping centers, parks, playgrounds and public utility facilities. Crown Prince Sultan has donated SR3 million to the project.
The keys to 30 villas were given to the poor under the first phase of a charitable housing project launched by the Prince Sultan Foundation in Tabuk. The project, which was carried out at a cost of SR22.7 million, includes 120 housing units, a mosque, schools and commercial centers.
The Higher Women’s Committee for Social and Humanitarian Services in the Makkah region distributed 300 housing units to those who needed them last year. The committee also took the initiative to build 120 housing units for the victims of flash floods in the Shaaba district of Khalees. A number of villages and townships in the region still require housing units, advised Princess Sara bint Abdul Mohsen Al-Anqari, chairperson of the committee.
The low-cost charitable housing project in the Eastern Province, named after Prince Muhammad ibn Fahd, received a donation of SR1 million from the Princess Anoud Charitable Foundation. Similar philanthropic projects are being carried out in other parts of the country with the support of governors, princes and businessmen.
Meanwhile, an ambitious campaign to employ Saudis was launched by the Ministry of Labor last year. Saudi Arabia is determined to eradicate unemployment within five years and increase the pace of Saudization, Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi said a few months ago. “There is a plan to employ 120,000 Saudis in the private sector every year,” he said focusing on the national employment strategy.
Al-Gosaibi emphasized that the ongoing program of Saudization was in full swing and all qualified and skilled Saudis would find jobs. The Kingdom has 75 training institutes with extensive courses for various professions and vocations. “They’re expected to train 300,000 young Saudis within three years,” the minister said, adding that education is also being given due importance with the opening of 40 more secondary schools Kingdomwide.
Deputy Labor Minister Ahmad Al-Zamil said the ministry was seeking to provide more job opportunities for Saudis in the Saudi market by implementing the legislation passed by the Council of Ministers.
According to the new legislation, any institution with less than 10 employees must employ one Saudi. Industrial or business companies with work forces of 20 employees or more must have 30 percent staffing by Saudis, or 10 percent for maintenance or contracting companies.
