A group of Saudi investors in Riyadh are to set up the first women only telecom complex in the Kingdom soon. This is largely due to the efforts of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development supporting Saudization in the telecommunications sector, Saudi Press Agency reported Sunday. In a statement, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development for Special Programs Abdulmonim Al-Shihri said the decision restricting work in the sale and maintenance of mobile telephones and their accessories to young Saudi men and women will open new vistas for the employment of Saudi women or their ownership of projects in the telecom sector. It will also enable businessmen or businesswomen to benefit from working women as they have a high productivity and remain in their jobs in a stable, motivating and suitable environment. Al-Shihri said the labor and social development authorities are providing financing and training programs. They have drawn up road maps for many Saudi men and women to enter into the telecommunications sector and run their shops. Al-Shihri said: "The women's only telecom complex located in Riyadh's Gharnatah District will receive financial support for the Saudi women workforce that will be in charge of running these shops. The financing will be from the Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf). They will be treated in the same way as the rest of the shops getting support. This is apart from the package of training programs provided by the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) in its various colleges and institutes for Saudis interested in working and investing in the telecommunications sector." The Saudi Credit and Savings Bank will contribute to providing easy loans that can reach SR200,000 for each young Saudi man and woman interested in investing in the telecom sector. This is in tandem with the ministry's decision to Saudize the telecommunications sector and to restrict work in it to Saudi men and women. Al-Shihri added that the complex will have 40 shops and its administration intends to provide transport facilities for female Saudi workers. Apart from the programs provided by the authorities participating in the Saudization of the telecom sector, the labor and social development authorities have contributed to the training of 34,218 Saudi men and women during the past few months in specializations like mobile phone maintenance and sales and customer service skills. The Ministry of Labor and Social Development called on business owners to take advantage of its programs and support in this field. It also called on all its clients to report any violation of the decision to Saudize the telecommunications sector via the website http://rasd.ma3an.gov.sa or dialing the client service number 19911.
