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Bab Rizq Jameel job creation up 27% in Q1

JEDDAH - Bab Rizq Jameel (BRJ), an initiative of Abdul Latif Jameel Community Services Programs (ALJCSP), successfully created 8,855 job opportunities during the first three months of 2009. This represents nearly a quarter of this year's target (38,000 new job opportunities) which is an increase of 27 percent over the same period last year (6,825 job opportunities).

Some of the jobs have appeared through opportunities from the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) and the Saudi Credit & Saving Bank.

Jobs have also been created through ALJCSP's diversified job creation programs. During the first quarter, 576 new jobs were created through the "training ending with employment' program, 410 of which were for males and 166 for females. This program concentrates on vocational and craft training courses that end with employment in private sector companies throughout the Kingdom. Training courses are prepared in line with, and according to the needs of the private sector. During Q1, such training areas included receptionists, salespersons, and central operators. Beauty care and hospitality were the main areas for females.

In addition, the direct employment program helped creating 1,781 jobs during the first quarter.

The program matches job seekers directly to vacancies in the job market. Direct employment is achieved by analyzing job opportunities available with private companies or establishments, and defining the qualifications required for such jobs. The program created 1,124 for males and 657 for females.

Based on the microfinance concept, the "productive household" program provided support to 5,207 females throughout the Kingdom to start their micro projects, such as handmade goods, perfumes and perfume mixtures, traditional foods, bed sheets and pillows. Re-payment rates for loans reached 99 percent in this program.

Through cooperation with Zain, Bab Rizq Jameel offered job opportunities for females in telephone marketing services.

In addition, jobs have been created for 16 females through the 'work from home' program, which is supervised by Nafisa Shams Academy for Arts and Crafts, in cooperation with Bab Rizq Jameel. Also during the first three months of this year, 946 small projects were financed, including 563 projects for males and 383 for females.

The average loan is SR150,000 over a 5-year re-payment period for new and existing projects. Finance provided for small projects increased by 309 percent compared with the same period in 2008. Among the projects financed were restaurants, watch distribution franchises, advertising and media design, interior decoration, home beauty salons, confectionary and pastries businesses, health centers, electronics, and other small projects. In addition, the program financed artists specializing in drawing and photography. The repayment rate of the loans is currently 97 percent.

Through the taxi and truck ownership programs, 159 taxi cars and 170 trucks were provided for young Saudi males, who can work as drivers and use their vehicles to transport goods, vegetables, equipment and passengers.

Comparing job opportunities available in each region, it is evident that Makkah area, including Jeddah, Makkah, Taif, Qunfudha and Al Awamir, has received the highest ratio with 2,802 new jobs, followed by the Eastern area (1,728), Riyadh area (1,091), Madina area with including Madina and Yanbu (1061), Hail area (802), Jazan area (597), Abha area (410) and finally Qassim area with 364 job opportunities.

Engineer Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, chief job creation officer at Bab Rizq Jameel, said ALJCSP will spare no effort during the upcoming period to open more Bab Rizq Jameel branches, which will help create more jobs for young Saudis. Engineer Jameel added that 423 young males and females are working in the Bab Rizq Jameel team as "job creation officers" who are on hand in the centers to provide the necessary assistance. The plans are to open 20 new branches Kingdom-wide by 2011. It is expected that each branch will create 200 job opportunities per month, a total of 4,000 job opportunities per month and 48,000 job opportunities annually by all branches.

Statements of job creation during the first three months of the year 2009 have been verified by Deloitte & Touche Bakr Abulkhair & Co. based on the procedures agreed upon between them and ALJCSP.

© The Saudi Gazette 2009