JEDDAH – Bab Rizq Jameel (BRJ), an initiative of ALJ Community Initiatives, created 30,444 job opportunities during the first half of the year 2012, an increase of 22 percent compared with the same period of the last year. Job opportunities created for females represented 74 percent, against 26 percent for males (unverified). Reviewing results the first half of 2012, Hassan Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, BRJ President in Saudi Arabia, announced that BRJ, the program specialized in creating jobs for males and females, has achieving positive results through its diversified programs. Jameel said the program is cooperating with several government authorities, including the Ministry of Labor, represented in its initiatives that encourage creation of more job opportunities, such as Taqat and Hafiz programs, and the programs of the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), and other public and private sector organizations, such as the National Commercial Bank (NCB), that support BRJ's job creation programs to achieve job creation objectives. "We truly appreciate the unlimited support that we get from them in the area of job creation," Jameel added. "During the first half of 2001, BRJ created 8,209 job opportunities in the Western Province, followed by 7,615 in the Northern Province, 6,266 in the Central Province, 4,734 in the Southern Province, and 3,620 job opportunities in the Eastern Province. During June, 2012, BRJ has made a record number of 7,346 job opportunities, at an increase of 36 percent compared with the same month of last year. BRJ is continuously seeking to upgrade its mechanisms and procedures to create more job opportunities for young Saudi males and females," Jameel further said. Abdulrahman Al Fihaid, BRJ Saudi Arabia Executive Director, said the productive household program created 15,705 jobs during the first half of the current year, which represents 52 percent of the total job opportunities created during this period. Based on the microfinance concept, the 'productive household' program provides interest-free loan of SR 6,000, payable in easy installments within eight months, to a group of 3-5 females to start their own micro projects, such as selling silver accessories, wedding accessories, gift wrapping, embroidery, perfumes, makeup business and other several fields. The program is similar to Grameen bank initiatives, but it is mainly for creating jobs. The program includes several stages, the first of which starts with a loan of SR2,000, and reaches up to SR6,000. Since 2004 to the end of June 2012, a total of 139,529 females have benefited from this program. Ahmed Muqalam, BRJ Director in the Northern Province, said the small projects finance program created more than 2,382 job opportunities through 2,382 small projects, of which 1,983 projects were for females and 399 for males. The program provides young males and females with interest-free loans up to SR 200,000 to finance their new or existing projects. BRJ has started its new "Excellent Projects" program, in which finance could reach more than SR500,000, he added. Ali Al Qahtani, BRJ Director at Riyadh area, said the direct employment program created 11,501 jobs during the first half. The program created 6,493 jobs for males and 5,008 jobs for females. The program matches between job seekers and jobs available at private sector companies, and introduces companies to qualified male and females job seekers through BRJ database. BRJ creates direct jobs with these companies. Most jobs created were production worker, salesman, security guard, female sales representative and other professions. Companies cooperated with BRJ during the first half were Al Hukair, Tadharis Security Co., SAS International, Avon, Al Hajri, Al Rajhi Contracting, Bamco Arabian and Al Shai'a Internatinal. Job opportunities are approved after obtaining an official statement from the employers. Ali Al Zahrani, BRJ Director in the Eastern Province, the training ending with employment program created 361 jobs, of which 317 for males and 44 for females during the first half of 2012. In this program, young males and females receives training to sharpen their skills in areas required by labor market. All training courses organized through this program end with job opportunities with the private sector. Training courses conducted during the first half of 2012 included Mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, welding and makeup. Companies cooperated with the program included Al Hajri in the Eastern province, Fredrick M (a French beauty products company) and Al Taif Center. – SG
