Labor Ministry launches initiatives to bolster Saudization in private sector

Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman yesterday commended the Labor Ministry’s efforts to create more job opportunities for Saudis and eradicate the country’s unemployment problem.
He received Labor Minister Adel Fakeih who gave the governor a presentation on the ministry’s present and future programs, especially for the Madinah region.
“There is a clear instruction from the Saudi leadership to provide good job opportunities for citizens,” the prince said.
Meanwhile, speaking to Al-Eqtisadiah daily, Fakeih highlighted his ministry’s efforts to create a secure atmosphere for women to work. During the last two years, he said 160,000 women have been employed in the private sector. Before that there were only 70,000 women in the private sector, he added.
He disclosed plans to implement 100 new initiatives to Saudize jobs. “We’ll develop 200 more initiatives to raise the percentage of Saudi workers in private firms,” he added.
He said Nitaqat was instrumental in employing 517,000 Saudis in the private sector with women accounting for 30 percent. He pointed out that women employment was still facing challenges due to unsatisfactory working conditions.
“Unemployment among men has been reduced to 6.1 percent, the lowest rate in 13 years,” Fakeih said. “We are now in the process of developing innovative methods for creating job opportunities for women, like allowing them to work from home and encouraging them to engage in cottage industries.”
The minister was informed that some private companies were offering salaries to women 20 percent less than what their male counterparts receive. He said he would look into this matter, adding that the Kingdom would not allow discrimination.