Saudi Gazette report AL-KHOBAR — More than 7,000 job-seeking Saudi women crowded the Tawteen Eastern Fair (Saudization of jobs exhibition) in Al-Khobar. The third day of the exhibition, which concluded on Monday, was solely dedicated for women. According to a report published by Al-Hayat newspaper on Wednesday, the organizing company did not specify the number of jobs available for women, who complained that many exhibiting companies made three to five years experience a prerequisite for employment. The Saudi women asked the Labor Ministry to help amend the criteria for jobs because the doors of employment for women only recently opened. They said it was not possible to find a Saudi woman jobseeker with long years of experience in any field. More than 85 companies participated in the exhibition, which was visited by more than 15,000 job-seeking Saudi men and women. Tariq Al-Ansari, director of Intilaqat, which organized the exhibition, said the fair aimed to connect jobseekers with national companies. He said: "The fair is an opportunity to recognize national cadres who are qualified for various jobs." He said his company had signed agreements with 21 national companies to provide jobs for Saudis. Meanwhile, director of the Human Resources Development Fund (HADAF) Ibrahim Al-Muaiqil, who opened the fair, said the database for jobseekers now contains more than 1.5 million CVs. He said the fund was planning to sign agreements with employment centers at the chambers of commerce and industry in the Kingdom to employ Saudi men and women. He said the fund now has about 30 employment offices covering many areas in the Kingdom.
