Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH – The Ministry of Labor and Social Development has uncovered a number of fraudulent practices by individuals to obtain financial assistance that is given to people with special needs. The ministry also referred to attempts by certain private firms to exploit the handicapped for fake nationalization of jobs.

The ministry discovered cases of impersonation by individuals to get aid while updating personal and medical data of special need people. “During this process we have found that many of the listed individuals did not deserve the ministry’s special assistance,” an official said.

The ministry also found that many of the applicants were on the payrolls of private and public firms and registered with the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI).

The official said the ministry found several special need people were exploited by private firms to meet Nitaqat conditions. “The ministry will deal with such cases immediately to protect public interests,” the official said while speaking to Al-Hayat Arabic daily.

He said a three-member official committee would look into applications of special need people to determine whether they really deserved the ministry’s assistance and exemptions.

Meanwhile, a new initiative would be launched shortly to develop capabilities of people with hearing difficulties during a forum titled “Ihsan Insan” in Riyadh. The program aims at improving the capabilities of the deaf in order to enhance their educational level and increase their job opportunities.

The forum, which will start on Tuesday, aims at strengthening efforts of agencies that support people with hearing difficulties, who number more than a million. An electronic app has been developed to bring the deaf closer to the society and make use of various services.

Yaaqub Saad Al-Zair, head of the team, said they have taken the responsibility of finding a solution for difficulties of people with hearing difficulties. “Ihsan Insan” is an initiative to strengthen the capabilities of this group of people and make them productive members of society.

“We also want to remove the obstacles facing this important group of people in our society. We’ll establish centers for sign language for the benefit of the deaf and their families and help them get employed in public and private firms,” Al-Zair told Al-Hayat.

He said the team would also work to enable people with hearing difficulties to communicate with individuals and institutions in their surroundings by developing electronic systems to convert signs into written and voice messages in different languages.

The forum will have a free workshop with sign language to educate people with hearing difficulties, a training course by Fahd Al-Fehaid on “Marketing one’s personality,” and a presentation by Mee Al-Otaibi on “The first app on smart phone for the handicapped.”

Mohammed Al-Fehaid, a sign language expert, will participate in a seminar on “Empowering people with hearing difficulties and how to develop their capabilities. Tarek Ismail will conduct a workshop on how to use Ihsan Insan app while the Saudi Red Crescent Authority will conduct another workshop on first-aid services, Al-Zair said.