Move to put jobless on the dole

RIYADH, 10 September — Saudi Arabia is planning to provide financial assistance to the unemployed, according to Dr. Sameer Rizwan, adviser to the director general of International Labor Organization for development policies. “Saudi officials have informed the ILO of their plan to launch the program,” Rizwan told Arab News. The revelation confirms a previous statement made by Labor and Social Affairs Minister Dr. Ali Al-Namlah on studies to work out a program to support the unemployed. Rizwan described the program as the best method to tackle unemployment in the country. He estimated the number of unemployed at 15.3 percent of the Saudi population. He said that during a meeting with the ILO delegation.