Unemployed Saudis over 35 years of age, who do not qualify for the government's SR2,000-a-month unemployment allowance, known as Hafiz, will get skills training paid for by the state, said Adel Fakieh, Minister of Labor. Writing on his Facebook page, Fakieh said the training and other services will be provided by the Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf). He said Hadaf provides world-class support and assistance so that Saudis can find suitable jobs and earn a decent living. Fakieh's comments come in the wake of much public criticism of the ministry's unemployment allowance. Many have called for the age limit of 35 to be scrapped. They have argued that this condition is illogical because many Saudi female graduates, who have been searching for work for more than 15 years, are now over the age of 35. In addition, there are thousands of citizens over 40 who have been unable to find work for many years, the critics say. In a statement to Al-Madina Arabic daily Thursday, Ibrahim Al-Me'aiqil, Director of Hadaf, said that more than two million people have applied for the Hafiz allowance. A total of 700,000 currently qualify for assistance, which will see payment of SR2,000 a month for one year. Al-Me'aiqil said 70 percent of those who qualify for the assistance are women. He said the government has set conditions to ensure that only deserving people get assistance.
