Some 26 leading companies provided a total of 700 jobs to Saudi youth under the umbrella of the Makkah Chamber Of Commerce (MCCI) on Tuesday at MCCI.

The program was organized by the MCCI under the slogan “Career path” at the MCCI premises which acted as a recruitment center for youth looking for jobs. They were required to fill out an employment form and register with the companies. The MCCI’s target is to provide 5,000 jobs to Saudi youth to coincide with upcoming Saudi National Day celebrations.

Hassan Kensarh, member of the Board of Directors of the MCCI and supervisor of the program, said: “About 26 prominent companies are involved in the recruitment process and their target is to provide up to 5,000 jobs to Saudi youth on the occasion of Saudi National Day celebrations, 2014.” He added that Saudi Arabian Airlines is among the recruiting companies and that the MCCI is taking steps to attract more companies to participate in the program.

He pointed out that with the support of the Human Resources Development Fund, 700 jobs with minimum salaries of between SR3,000 and SR4,000 had been offered to interested youth but they were endeavoring to bring in more companies to achieve the target of 5,000 jobs this year.

“We want the private sector and institutions to come forward to hire Saudis,” Kensarh said. The Ministry of Labor has guaranteed more career opportunities for the youth and they are focusing on resettlement and recovery of the commercial market in the Kingdom, he added.

“Most youth are attracted to jobs with extra perks and benefits so the large companies should take this into account when designing their packages,” he said.

He also said that the chamber plans to create a special information center that tracks jobs which includes major companies seeking to hire Saudis, in addition to establishing another database for those wishing to work.

Kensarh underscored that the authorities concerned and decision makers for jobs and careers should launch the nationalization program through gradual substitution and focus on the major companies regarding their financial capacity and actual need for manpower.

The MCCI has received hundreds of applications from youth interested in working for companies and organizations hiring Saudi youth as operators, hotel managers, in catering, contractors and engineering design.