JEDDAH: Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi has urged owners of restaurants and coffee shops to create a conducive atmosphere to attract young Saudis to work in the sector.
“Restaurants and coffee shops are important areas of work. Saudis should not be ashamed of working in this sector,” he said.
The minister made this comment while receiving members of the Hospitality Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday.
The minister urged businessmen to Saudize jobs in restaurants and coffee shops gradually.
“I will do my best to remove all obstacles facing the Saudization of jobs in the sector,” he added.
The committee members presented a study conducted by ARAC Center for Studies and Research on obstacles facing Saudization in the hospitality sector.
The members called on the minister to consider the actual need while sanctioning recruitment of foreign workers to the sector. Efforts must also be taken to improve the quality of workplaces, working hours and salary and other benefits, they added.
Khaled Al-Harithy, chairman of the committee, said the meeting with the minister was aimed at enhancing cooperation between the public and private sectors in to remove the obstacles facing the Saudization of jobs in the sector.
“The minister expressed his understanding of the problems being faced by the private sector,” he added.
Prince Faisal bin Abdullah Al-Faisal, a member of the committee, said the meeting with Al-Gosaibi was fruitful and frank.
“The Saudization of jobs in the hospitality sector requires the cooperation of job-seeking Saudis, their families and businessmen,” he said.
A working team has been formed to follow up implementation of the recommendations of the meeting.
