JEDDAH — The fifth Youth Parliament organized by Okaz — Saudi Gazette’s sister paper — raised some very interesting discussion points amongst the attending Saudi youth.

The vast majority of the attendees were vexed by the inaccurate portrayal of themselves as lazy and unambitious. Rather, they contested that they were willing and ready to contribute to the Kingdom’s development and progress.

Al-Harith Al-Qureshi, a young businessman outlined the gradual transition of employment in the private sector, “Studies show that more than half of the Saudi youth will need to make an honest living outside the government sector.” He said this was due to the government’s plans to localize jobs.

Referring to his own experience he said that only one Saudi youth came forward in response to a recruitment campaign he recently ran.

This seemed to confirm business owners’ conviction that Saudi job seekers lack the necessary will to assimilate in the private sector.

He said society may have to share the responsibility for such a poor showing. “Most families care more about job titles and salaries rather than the work itself. This commonly happens when a boy visits a family to propose for marriage.”
 
Mekki Al-Salem said he graduated from a vocational institute with excellent grades. He had been promised a job as a teacher at the institute but the authorities reneged and dashed his dreams of a bright future. He kept looking for a suitable job and when his efforts failed he still made a conscientious effort to fulfill his ambition. His reward eventually came when he started his own business with some of his friends who shared a passion for his specialist subject. — SG