Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH/RIYADH — Over 6,000 graduates of government and private health institutes are refusing to work in the private sector and are demanding government jobs with better pay and benefits. These graduates recently turned down private sector jobs at branches of the Ministry of Civil Service in Jeddah, Najran, Buraidah and Riyadh. Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman Al-Khunain, spokesman of the Ministry of Civil Service, said the 6,000 graduates have been told that they will be contacted if government jobs become available. They can apply for public sector posts while working for private firms, the official added. The ministry has announced the names of 14,000 candidates who should be accommodated in the health sector, including 4,000 for the Ministry of Health, 4,000 for other health posts and 6,000 for the private sector. He said the 6,000 graduates have been referred to the Ministry of Health to find jobs for them in the private sector. The graduates told Okaz/Saudi Gazette they want the ministry to implement the Royal Order which states that they will be given government jobs after passing the necessary examinations. “But the ministry, instead of employing us in the government sector has referred us to the Ministry of Labor. We have rejected this,” the graduates said. They stressed that they are all licensed and have passed the examinations of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties which qualifies them to work in the government sector. “We reject any offer to work in the private sector because of the difference in scales and future job prospects.” The director of the Najran branch of the Ministry of Civil Service has advised students to take up jobs in the private sector. Their names will remain on the list kept by the Ministry of Civil Service, he added. The students, however, rejected this advice. __
