An array of 44 Saudi women have begun running their own phone businesses in the Women's Granada telecom complex in Riyadh as the Ministry of Labor and Social Development would start implementing the full nationalization this Friday (Dhul Hijjah 1). A group of officials from the ministry took part in the opening ceremony of the complex, including Dr. Ibrahim Al- Shafiei, director of the guided nationalization program and advisor to the minister of labor and social development, and AbdulMunim Al-Shehri, assistant undersecretary for special programs. Abdulrahman Al-Qhatani, the telecom complex's owner, and a number of women investors who are engaged in the cell-phone business attended the ceremony.. With the aim of sponsoring such events, the ministry is keen on intensifying efforts to nationalize the sector and facilitate assistance for businessmen and investors to generate opportunities for female workers or business owners and raise their participation in the labor market, which is in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the NPT 2020. Al- Shafiei introduced the incentives and training programs to female investors and workers at the complex that the ministry and its affiliate entities have offered so far, which aims to support and encourage Saudi nationals of both genders to join the sector. Such free programs in the fields of maintenance, customer service and salesmanship take place at the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) and other incentives like payroll rebate are supported by the Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf), besides loans given by the Saudi Credit and Saving Bank, Al-Shafiei added. He said, several memoranda of understanding were inked between the ministry and its affiliates and mega telecommunication companies so as to provide support, consultancy and incentives that encourage Saudi nationals to enter the sector. Al- Shafiei said that the ministry has observed seriousness and excitement on the part of women investors and workers at the complex, and will extend necessary support for Saudi nationals including training and financing aid in partnership with the affiliating entities, in addition to protecting them against the competition of expat workers through ongoing inspection tours. Al- Shafiei hoped that Saudi nationals must have seized the opportunities by starting a business or working as salespersons and maintenance professionals in the sector amid the ministry's efforts to carry out the 50 percent Saudization that started on June 6. The ministry and other public agencies involved to implement the Saudization directive in the telecommunication sector have joined hands to enforce the full nationalization on Sept. 2, he added. Meanwhile, Al-Shehri thanked the complex's owner for supporting the directive as well as providing suitable work environment for women investors and workers in order to join the sector, mentioning that other women's telecom complexes are planned to open across various parts of the Kingdom. He added that the ministry and its affiliates are striving hard to support Saudi nationals by allowing them to work and invest in the vital sector given the lucrative benefits they can find to improve their standards of living, leading to contribute to the national economic growth. The assistant undersecretary for special programs stressed that the ministry has pledged to encourage and support investors to set up telecom complexes for women with the aim of nationalizing the sector, creating jobs for Saudi women and preparing suitable workplaces as well. Al-Shehri added that the ministry has sought to provide services to women investors and workers inside the complex by preparing a special corner that display loans, financial support, protection and inspection schemes along with training and employment programs. Al-Shehri urged businessmen who are interested in investing in the telecom sector to cooperate with the ministry and grant opportunities and pave the way for Saudi women to enter the sector whether they are workers or business owners, a move that would increase entrants and enhance the economy through empowering the female manpower in the labor market. Al-Qhatani said the Granada complex consists of 44 shops selling mobile phones and accessories and providing repair services and also has a coffee shop, women-only accessories and groceries. Al-Qhatani explained that the complex are well-equipped in accordance with the ministry's conditions set for women work in the private sector, as well as maintain services such as bathrooms, break rooms, cafeteria, and security guards. Al-Qhatani said that the complex will also offer transportation means for female business owners of mobile shops and workers, pledging that he and his colleagues would support the telecom sector and create new job and investment opportunities for Saudi nationals in line with the ministry's direction.
