“It is regretful that some weak-minded people are trying to exploit the Hafiz system by stealing the identities of the dead. This unscrupulous practice was detected after verifying 12 databases shared by a number of government agencies,” he said.The minister said some unemployed youths saw Hafiz as a social security scheme, Al-Eqtisadiah business daily reported on Wednesday.
“On the contrary, it is a system initiated by the ministry to support jobseekers by providing them training and making job opportunities available to them, in addition to extending financial support to them for a full year,” he said.
Fakeih said Hafiz would not help those who were not trying hard enough to find a job. “SR200 will be deducted from the unemployment allowance in case a jobseeker fails to attend a training course or personal interview each time. Moreover, a monthly allowance of SR2,000 will be linked to training and courses to help them take up jobs,” he said.
He said those who did not benefit from the allowance could take advantage of training programs and personal interviews conducted by private companies and establishments.
The minister also said firms found barring Saudi jobseekers from such programs must explain themselves to the ministry.Fakeih also announced plans to launch a new version of the Nitaqat Saudization program next year. “The new Nitaqat scheme will be linked to the percentage of salaries paid to employees by private firms. This system aims to increase the wages of Saudi employees. An order that will make it mandatory on the private sector companies to disclose the salaries of their employees through their bank accounts will be issued soon,” he said.
According to the minister, beneficiaries of social insurance can take advantage of the Hafiz system as long as they fulfill the specified criteria.
“They will be given the allowance after deduction of the amount they receive from the social insurance system until they find suitable jobs. The children of Saudi women married to foreigners can also take advantage of the Hafiz system,” he said.
The minister expected 2 million jobseekers to benefit from Hafiz. The government will spend about SR4 billion a month to distribute the monthly allowance of SR2,000 to all beneficiaries.
Fakeih commended the outstanding performance of those working on Hafiz for playing their part in setting up the system using modern technology.
“A jobseeker no longer needs to go to any labor office or submit any applications. Instead, he can go online,” he said.Fakeih also indicated that the ministry has concluded contracts with international companies looking to employ young jobseekers through Nitaqat centers.
“These centers will devote themselves to sorting out the list of jobseekers in accordance with the jobs most suitable for each applicant. They also guide jobseekers in preparing their CVs and helping them face an interview,” he said.
The minister, also a former businessman, indicated that there would be resistance from the business community against the ministry’s initiatives, especially the Nitaqat program.
Referring to the ministry’s move to replace foreign salesmen with Saudi women at lingerie and women accessory shops, the minister said: “We will implement the regulation strictly. If any shops fail to implement the regulation, we will force them to stop their activities,” he said.
