Saudi: Thousands of jobs waiting to be taken

June 9, 2013

Miss_Match_skills

Jeddah, Jun 9: A businessman here has urged the state to overhaul the country’s education system so Saudis could be trained for jobs needed. He also called on the government to set up a statistics agency that could provide “accurate” data on the Saudi labor market, including the number of Saudis without work and their levels of education.

It was recently revealed that there are 40,000 medical and 190,000 engineering job vacancies in the country that could be filled by Saudis. In addition, an annual average of 330,000 Saudi high school graduates prefers to seek work rather than study further.

Mohamed Al-Turki, chairman and CEO of MTMM Engineering Consultancy, said this would help the government develop a proper plan to educate and employ Saudis in line with market needs.

Al-Turki said current statistics are not accurate. “I don’t think we have a proper statistics agency that can tell us the exact number of unemployed. What we read in the press is not accurate, and we can’t depend on Hafiz data,” he said.

“If we refer to Hafiz, the number of unemployed is really high, but we can’t determine whether they are educated or not,” he said.

Al-Turki said the unemployment problem could only be solved if businesspeople have access to a database that identifies the number of unemployed, their level of education and market needs. He added that the Ministry of Higher Education should also help in this process. “The ministry of labor is definitely doing its best to solve a high profile issue. However, I believe that without changing the education system to meet market demand, the unemployment issue will not be solved,” said Al-Turki.

According to statistics, there are 333,075 foreign nurses, taking up 88 percent of the country’s nursing jobs, while there are an estimated 333,045 trained Saudi nurses.

Abdulrahim Gari, internal medicine and hematology consultant and member of the medical health committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), said there is high demand in the Kingdom for medical workers.

“Unfortunately, most Saudis don’t have a good understanding of what it means to have a good work ethic. Medical jobs require qualified people who have the proper work ethic,” he said.

“Most unemployed Saudis have BA degrees in education and other fields that do not fulfill Saudi market needs. We have vacancies in the private and government medical sector, and if I receive applications from Saudi nurses, technicians or doctors, I will hire them for sure.”

He said many graduates are not qualified to fill medical jobs. “If we speak about the 28,000 Saudis who just graduated from medical institutes, they are not qualified enough, which is why the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties has not (certified) them,” he said.

Gari said there would be rising demand for medical jobs because of the increasing Saudi population, the rise in the number of elderly people, and the prevalence of obesity and diabetes.

Ahmed Omar Al-Sanousi, CEO of Prince Sultan Cultural Center, said Saudis must prepare themselves to take up new professions rather than depending on jobs in traditional areas of work. “I think that young Saudis’ views about work have changed and will continue to change.”

He also called on the labor ministry to get a broad range of data on the labor market. “The high unemployment rate has been determined by the labor ministry, but doesn’t reveal the background of the unemployed. I think we need a detailed database that defines accurately the number of employees, their education and their background,” he said.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
Agencies
May 26,2020

Riyadh, May 26: The authorities in Saudi Arabia have decided to ease some restrictions put in place over coronavirus fears, allowing movement and resumption of some economic and commercial activities, Saudi Press Agency reported early Tuesday citing an official source at the Interior Ministry.

The move also allows restarting of domestic flights, opening of mosques, restaurants and cafes and work attendance, however, the temporary suspension of Umrah pilgrimage remains in force.

The easing of restrictions will be carried out in a phased manner, with the first phase beginning on Thursday (May 28) and ending on May 30.

In the first phase, the movement within and between all regions of the Kingdom in private cars will be allowed from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. except in Makkah. Economic and commercial activities will resume in retail and wholesale shops and malls but beauty salons, barber shops, sports clubs, health clubs, entertainment centers and cinemas will continue to remain shut due to social distancing concerns.

In the second phase, which begins on May 31 and ends on June 20, the movement is allowed from 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. in all areas of the Kingdom, except in Makkah. All congregational prayers, including Friday prayers, will resume in all mosques across the Kingdom except in Makkah.

The suspension of workplace attendance will end, allowing all employees in ministries, government entities and private sector companies to return to working from their offices provided that they follow strict precautionary guidelines.

The suspension on travel between regions in the Kingdom using various transport methods will no longer be in place. Airlines will be allowed to operate domestic flights if they adhere to precautionary measures set by the civil aviation authority and the Ministry of Health. The suspension of international flights, will, however, continue until further notice.

Restaurants and cafes serving food and beverages can reopen, however, beauty salons, barber shops, sports clubs, health clubs, entertainment centers and cinemas will be barred from reopening in the second phase. The ban on social gatherings of more than fifty people, such as weddings and funerals will also continue to remain in force.

In the third phase commencing on June 21, the Kingdom will return to "normal" conditions as it was before the coronavirus lockdown measures were implemented.

Meanwhile in Makkah, the first phase measures will be implemented between May 31 to June 20 and the second phase will begin on May 21. Friday prayers and all congregational prayers will continue to be held in the Grand Mosque, only to be attended by Imams and the employees.

Comments

Mohammed Sarfraz
 - 
Tuesday, 26 May 2020

I think second phase is May 31 to June 20. Must be a typo. 

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
April 26,2020

Dubai, Apr 26: The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has instructed financial institutions in the country to search and freeze all bank accounts of Indian billionaire BR Shetty and his family along with those of companies where he has a stake.

The apex bank has also blacklisted several firms associated with Shetty along with their entire senior management.

In an advisory issued last week, CBUAE cited decisions of the Federal Attorney General and asked financial institutions to search and freeze any bank accounts, deposits or investments in the name of Shetty or his family members.

Financial institutions have been directed to stop transfers from these accounts and deny access to deposit boxes.

Currently in India and facing a string of charges, Shetty is the founder of NMC Health.

The heathcare provider was placed into administration by a UK court recently following an application by the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) which alone has an exposure of $981 million (Dh3.6 billion).

Overall, UAE banks have a combined exposure of more than Dh8bn to NMC which owes money to Oman-based banks and financial institutions as well.

Probing credit facilities
The Central Bank has sought information about credit facilites extended to the Shettys along with details of their safe deposit boxes and the financial transfers they have made till date.

A similar advisory has been issued for NMC Healthcare and NMC Holding, based on the decision of the Head of Plenary Fund Prosecution.

The Central Bank has also blacklisted several companies associated with Shetty. Key staff members of these firms have been similarly blacklisted.

Comments

Angry Indian
 - 
Monday, 27 Apr 2020

when you make money with good country you should not make doka to that country, first of all we indian have bad name in GCC now this will make more dought on indian hindus..

 

after BJP come to power in india,our country is acting like maron, this will only end with final WAR.

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
Agencies
June 5,2020

Dubai, Jun 5: A new set of coronavirus guidelines for UAE hotels has been published by the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority.

The guidelines, released late Thursday, require all employees to be tested for Covid-19 before reopening, and to be re-tested every 15 days.

Hotels are expected to provide an infrared thermometer and thermal camera, with employee temperatures to be tested several times per working day.

Any guest or employee showing coronavirus symptoms will not be permitted to enter hotel facilities, the guidelines stress.

Hotels must also leave a 24-hour gap between guests leaving a room, and the next guests arriving.

Facilities such as restaurants, cafes, gyms, swimming pools and beaches in hotels will resume operation under a minimum capacity.

Customers must have their temperatures taken before they enter.

The working hours of restaurants and cafes will be from 6am until 9pm, allowing four people to sit at the same table with 2.5 metres left between tables. Menus must be sterilised after each use.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.