The Ministry of Labor's decision to treat the employment of a person with special needs as employing four persons under the Saudization policy could well have negative repercussions, private sector employees have warned. Many companies are “employing” disabled persons and paying them without making them work, deceiving the ministry which would be under the impression of fulfillment of their law. The issue came to light after a 22-year-old visually impaired employee, who requested anonymity, told Al-Hayat newspaper that he was hired by a company two years ago and has not been assigned any work yet. He, however, receives a monthly salary of SR1,486. He said he had accepted the job offer while still in university as he saw no harm in it. Ahmad, another 22-year-old visually disabled, said he was hired by a company as a working-from-home employee, carrying out his work through the phone. He said his inability to use the computer made it difficult for him to find a job. Ahmad participated in the employment track for people with vision and audition impairment organized by Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) held recently. However, the head of the female section at Jeddah Club of Deaf and Mute, said the club's girls are increasingly hired, noting that more than 14 girls were recruited in different companies as regular employees. “Only 4 women were employed as working-from-home because the company did not have a female section,” she said. Training of these girls is carried out by the hiring company and the Human Resource Development Fund agreed upon during the event, she said. Contrary to claims, the director of human resources at the charitable society of Ebsar said: “We have not received any application to train or hire our visually impaired.” “Many companies are serious in recruiting special-needs people,” said Executive manager of Saudization administration at JCCI, adding that it is likely that some may exploit the gaps in the system. Saleh Homaidan, special-needs employment Director at JCCI, declined to give any statistics on the number of people employed through the Chamber, saying the number will be announced when completed. Meanwhile, Qosai Filali, Director of Makkah Province's Labor Office, said any one found twisting the decision to take undue advantage would be punished severely. __
