Hamad, Chairman of the Shoura Council's Committee for Management, Human Resources and Petitions, assigned to examine proposals for unemployment benefit, has said that the study for the move requires the assistance of specialists and lamented the lack of a research and study center at the Council. The Council previously backed the proposal brought by Shoura member Salem Al-Mari two years ago for monthly unemployment benefit of SR1,000 until such a time as work is found. According to Al-Hamad, his committee might cancel the proposal – which was supported by 105 members, with 23 voting against – or even scrap it, all depending on further study. “That study could take a long time,” he said, without wishing to set a deadline. “We really need to involve specialist economists, university experts and experienced organizations since council doesn't have its own center for study and research.” Both supporting Shoura members and Council opposition to the move have concerns. Supporter Saeed Al-Sheikh wondered who would pay the unemployment benefits. “Will the money come from the State, the human resources fund or the Credit Bank?” Al-Sheikh asked. Yahya Al-Samaani and Abdullah Al-Dossari have asked for a regulatory period of time to be set for benefit after which the recipient is ineligible. Saad Mareq, who voted against the move, said the real problem was “not in who pays the unemployed, but instead in how to create jobs”, while Zain Al-Abedeen described unemployment in Saudi Arabia as “unemployment by choice”. “Many unemployed people refuse to take certain types of jobs,” Al-Abedeen said. Another opposer to unemployment benefit, Abdulrahman Al-Yami, described the whole proposal as “skipping over the main problem.” “There are still job positions occupied by non-Saudis,” Al
