At least 150 unqualified jobseekers signed job contracts with local companies to start training on the job as part of the 17th “Towards Employment” scheme held in Jeddah. The scheme is also being held in different parts of the Kingdom in efforts to provide gainful employment to young Saudis and people with special needs. Jobseekers, even if unqualified yet, can still apply for a job within the scheme until the end of this week. Once approved, they will start training next week. Jobseekers with special needs, however, have submitted nearly 700 job applications so far to the 45 local companies participating with training and job opportunities in the scheme, said Muhammad Jalal, director of Saudi human resources at Jeddah Labor Office. “There is an abundance of jobs to offer this year,” he said. The labor office is taking the issue of localization of jobs seriously as directed by the Labor Minister himself, he said. “The labor office conducts routine checks to make sure that the companies in full compliance with the localization law,” he added Jobseekers requested local companies involved in computer and technology industries to offer training and jobs to increase the base of its Saudization scheme, as the majority of jobseekers turned their backs on many vocational jobs provided in the current employment scheme. – Okaz __
