The government is responsible for educating young Saudis but it is not obliged to employ them in the public sector, said Prince Dr. Faisal Bin Meshal Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Emir of Qasim. He called on the nation's young people to face up to challenges in the marketplace and not ask for public sector jobs. Addressing an open meeting of the Buraidah branch of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, Prince Dr. Faisal said a committee has been set up at the highest level to create jobs for Saudis. The committee has so far succeeded in finding jobs for 200 male and female jobseekers and identified 600 job opportunities in different sectors. He also called on business owners to deal fairly with the youth and employ them based on their qualifications, skills and experience. He said a prize has been created for “self-made” young people who start their own businesses, instead of looking for public sector jobs. The prize is also meant to encourage young jobseekers to work in whatever jobs they can find, even as laborers. “There is nothing wrong with a laborer's job because a person is earning his living honorably. In his childhood the Prophet, peace be upon him, worked as a shepherd.” He said the prize was currently only open to young jobseekers and businesswomen but will be expanded to include everyone next year. The prince said those who question the status of women in this country were making a grave mistake. “Women are exemplary in this country. I don't mean only Saudi women but every Muslim woman who takes pride in her faith.” __
