RIYADH — The remote employment and work from home program will create 141,000 job opportunities by 2020, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Development. A source in the ministry said the program will raise the rate of women›s employment to 28 percent by 2020. He said 4,500 women have already enrolled in the remote and home employment program through the ministry›s five centers in Jazan, Qassim, Hail, Madinah and Ahsa. "The program is one of the components of the National Transformation Plan 2020, which gives paramount importance to job creation. The program will mostly benefit those living in rural areas who cannot commute to their workplaces, women and individuals with special needs," said the source. The source said the highest rate of unemployment was among women. "The program was created with the hope of meeting women's needs for flexible employment options. Women face a number of social obstacles in obtaining suitable jobs and they often cannot find reliable transportation. The long work hours create difficulties for them to keep a balance between work and family," said the source. The source said the program will help diversify the economy and develop the country›s human resources. "The Ministry of Labor and Social Development is working with the Council of Economic and Developmental Affairs and 18 government directorates. The ministry has 755 initiatives in economic, developmental and social fields. Most of the projects focus on digitalizing the ministry, promoting partnerships between the private and public sectors, creating jobs and supporting local content," said the source.
