JEDDAH: The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) last year secured jobs for 3,800 young Saudi men and women, including people with special needs, at various private companies.
Adnan Mandoura, head of the Department of Business and Committees at the chamber, told Arab News that 151 of those provided with jobs were disabled.
“The chamber is currently undertaking concerted efforts with the private sector to double the number of jobs for disabled youths. We have signed agreements with a number of private companies and establishments to employ this year thousands of young Saudis, including the physically challenged,” Mandoura said.
He added that the chamber was working on plans to assimilate the disabled into society.
Mandoura denied that employment opportunities in the Saudi private sector were adversely influenced by the present international financial crisis. He added that the chamber had identified 25 job categories that could be filled by the disabled.
“The process of employing disabled youths in the private sector is going unabated. We have not canceled any employment plans because of the international financial crisis,” he said.
According to Mandoura, women, including the disabled, could be receptionists, telephone operators, graphic designers, schoolteachers, make-up specialists and supervisors of production lines.
He said the JCCI established a special office to coordinate with the private sector in the employment of youths, especially those with special needs.
“The chamber is planning to expand its efforts in this field during the coming months,” he added.
