The working conditions of the country's labor force is going to be the main topic of a forum to be held by the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) in Jeddah. According to Eng. Samir Raslan, head of the International Assembly for Industrial Security in the Middle East, the topic was becoming increasingly important because of the large number of projects currently underway in the Kingdom. The last five years have seen a boom in construction and other industries. Many workers face a number of dangers in the workplace, said Raslan. He said there was a need to ensure that both Saudis and expatriates are protected from harm when carrying out their jobs. According to Raslan, the ASIS branches in Saudi Arabia are working on a study in preparation for the forum. They are looking at the example provided by this country. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is considered one of the leading countries in its care of employees. The private sector in Saudi Arabia spent about SR5 billion over the past five years to achieve industrial security and assure a safe work environment in this country,” he said. He said there were a number of safety procedures and techniques that can determine proper industrial security. However, these measures were not popular in most Mideast countries. That is why it was important to raise awareness of the issues, added Raslan. He said that the organization plans to have lectures on these issues so that workers can be educated. A number of international conferences are also in the pipeline, he said. “We are also looking to have greater cooperation between the private and governmental sectors to achieve industrial security on both sides,” said Raslan. The ASIS was established in 1955. It aims to improve the training of security professionals. And increase the effectiveness and productivity of human resources through the development of educational programs and materials. It provides education and research, organizes seminars and holds annual exhibitions. It also disseminates specialized scientific journals aimed at providing an opportunity for employees to meet and exchange views and experiences in the field of industrial security. In Saudi Arabia, there are two branches of the association, one in the eastern region and another in Jeddah, which was established in 2006. The Jeddah branch is managed by a number of Saudi volunteers and specialists in the field of industrial security.
