The Kingdom’s public transport sector is soon going to become a major area to create job opportunities for unemployed Saudi youths. Apart from taking up again to vigorously implement the plan for full nationalization of the limousine business sector that was put off for an indefinite period seven years ago, the Labor Ministry has also plans to tie up with the Transport Ministry to create 160,000 jobs. The move gains significance in the wake of the recent Cabinet decision to implement a massive public transport system for major cities in the Kingdom to streamline vehicular traffic. The Cabinet gave the go-ahead for the project, featuring buses and trains, which will be first implemented in Riyadh.
Saeed Al-Bassami, deputy chairman of the national committee for transport at the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said that both ministries are working on a comprehensive plan aimed at improving this vital sector as well as to accommodate as many Saudi job seekers as possible in it. “The plan, which will be implemented within six months, aims at creating 160,000 job opportunities for Saudis with an attractive monthly salary ranging between SR 3,000 and SR 6,000. Under the plan, there will be regulations for driving public vehicles in a way ensuring safety and comfort of passengers, in addition to providing training to drivers through state-owned vocational training institutes,” he said.
Al-Bassami told Al-Madinah Arabic daily that the committee is currently carrying out a study with regard to massive overhauling of the public transport sector. “The consultative firm, appointed by the committee, is giving finishing touches to the study, which would cover all aspects of the sector, including heavy, medium and light vehicles used for public transport. The study will suggest separate guidelines for driving all these types of vehicles,” he said.
According to Al-Bassami, the drivers will be given training at the institutes run by the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation.
160,000 transport jobs for Saudis planned
