Bab Rizq Jameel (BRJ), an initiative of ALJ Community Initiatives (ALJCI), created 12,605 job opportunities during the first quarter of the current year, that is an increase by 421 jobs as compared to last year during the same period. Females took over 77 percent of the total job opportunities created against 23 percent (unverified) for males. Highlighting the results of BRJ's Q1 of 2012 in Saudi Arabia, Abdul Rahman Al Fihaid, executive director of BRJ in the Kingdom, announced that the productive household program created 6,903 jobs, which represents 54 percent of the total job opportunities. Based on the microfinance concept, the ‘productive household' program provides interest-free loan of SR 5,000 to a group of three – five females to start their own micro projects from home, such as selling wedding accessories, gift wrappings, embroidery, perfumes and perfume mixtures, makeup and other miscellaneous items. The program includes several stages — the first of which starts with a loan of SR2,000, a minimum amount given to each female, although it could reach SR 6,000 too. According to Al Fihaid, the idea of this program is similar to Grameen Bank loans, but it is interest-free. The idea behind it is not just based on finance, instead, it is associated with working from home. The direct employment program is the next phase and it has created 4,490 jobs during the first quarter. It has 2,522 jobs for males and 1,968 jobs for females. The program introduces qualified male and female job-seekers to companies with vacancies through BRJ's database. Jobs created were production worker, salesman, security guard and female sales representative. Results showed a large number of females applying for jobs. Companies which cooperated with BRJ during Q1 were Al Nama Vocational Institution, Al Shaia International Company, Jazirat Sama Fashion and Biyabo Trading Company. The small projects finance program came in the third place by creating 968 job opportunities, 811 for females and 157 for males. The program provides young males and females with interest-free loans for up to SR150,000 for their new or existing projects. Most important projects financed by this program were decoration, fishing boats, coffee shop and makeup projects. Before granting them loans, the program verifies the authentication of owners and their businesses. At the fourth slot was employment for trainees. The program created 44 jobs through organizing two training courses in which 35 young females and nine males participated. In this program, both receive training to sharpen their skills in areas required by labor market. All training courses organized end with job opportunities in the private sector. Training conducted during Q1 of this year included salesmen, marketing, makeup and receptionists courses. Fredrick Beauty Company, Jumaira Trading Company and the Modern Electronics Company were companies which cooperated with the organizers. Mohammed Bakhit Al Wafi, a young man who benefited from the program, said that he had been looking for a job for more than six months. When he applied to BRJ in Jeddah they enrolled him in the training program. At the end of the course, he sat for an interview, from where he was transferred to Rolaco Company to attend another training course in sales. Taxi ownership programs came in the end and had 200 job opportunities wherein 127 was created during the first quarter itself. In this program, young Saudi males own their vehicles after payment of small installments. Through the truck ownership program, BRJ created 73 job opportunities, and here too young Saudi males get ownership of trucks after payment of installments. As part of BRJ activities and programs, Nafisa Shams Academy for Arts and Crafts (NSAAC) provided training to 312 female trainees in different fields, including secretarial works, tailoring and hair styling. In addition, jobs have also been created for 181 females through the ‘work from home' program, which is also supervised by NSAAC. Through this program, females produce approximately 2,000 prayer rugs every month, which is sold to Toyota and Lexus and during the first quarter of this year 22,793 prayer rugs were produced by them. Al Fihaid said that job opportunities are different from monthly-paid jobs as they could be a long-term position, a fixed-salary position, a part-time work, a small project, a self-employment job such as a taxi ownership, a marketing agent with a commission, a consultant or any other available opportunity that could generate income. “Through BRJ, we are seeking to create job opportunities for young male and female Saudi citizens. We cooperate with several governmental bodies, such as the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), Saudi Credit and Saving Bank, Ministry of Work and Labor, Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), and other bodies that support job creation programs to achieve their goals,” he said. He also said that BRJ is continuously seeking to develop flexible mechanisms and procedures to create more job opportunities. “During the first quarter BRJ created 3,859 job opportunities in the Western Province, followed by 3,152 in the Northern Province, 2,701 in the Central Province, 1,677 in the Southern Province, and 1,216 job opportunities in the Eastern Province,” he explained.
