Ahmad Al-Jubair
Minister of Labor and Social Development Dr. Mufrej Al-Haqbani said the Taqat program for Saudization will restructure the Saudi labor market and create more jobs for Saudis and help businesses replace expatriate workers with Saudis. The program itself will develop the skills of the Saudi labor market, support it and help employers select the right employees for their businesses.
However, we are in dire need of swift Saudization solutions before things get out of control in our labor market. Citizens today are extremely worried about finding a job while Saudization has become one of the most dangerous problems our society is facing. We need programs that help us design quick solutions and optimize the capabilities of Saudi jobseekers. In fact, we need a job creation commission tasked with creating job opportunities for young Saudi men and women, jobs that guarantee them prosperity, security and stability.
The commission would raise public awareness about the best job offers available and advise jobseekers on the best way to develop their skills and further their careers. Newly graduated college students are in dire need of job opportunities. The commission must also educate male guardians about the importance of letting women work. Some guardians are adamant about this and refuse to let women work in the private sector.
Saudi women should be provided with training programs that help them develop and sharpen their skills in various fields in order to increase the chances of them finding a suitable job. One of the obstacles facing women who want to work is the absence of a nursery within the workplace. Employers should be required to provide female employees with daycare services on the premises in order to encourage women to work.
To ensure the success of the commission, the Ministry of Labor and Social Development should impose hefty penalties and fines on employers who do not employ Saudis and do not provide daycare services to Saudi women. The ministry should also ensure that all employers treat their male and female staff equally without any discrimination in terms of bonuses, salaries and compensation, providing them with equal job opportunities.
