JEDDAH — The Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf) has financed the training of 1,605 young Saudi men and women in the selling and maintenance of mobile phones as part of a drive to nationalize the communications sector. Local press reports on Thursday said the training was done by the Entrepreneurship Center under an agreement signed with the fund in June. The Ministry of Labor and Social Development has decided to fully Saudize the sector in a maximum period of six months divided into two phases of 50 percent each with the second and final one starting on Sept. 2. Under the agreement, Hadaf is to pay the entire training fees in addition to SR3,000 every month for two years to help the Saudi and women run their small communications business. The Saudi Credit and Saving Bank arms young entrepreneurs with loans reaching up to SR200,000 to finance their businesses. Meanwhile, maintenance technicians were reportedly absent from mobile shops in Khamis Mushayat and Ahud Rufaidah in Asir Province which caused the closing down of several stores. A number of young Saudi shop owners said the absence of the technicians would slow down business, impede nationalization of the communications sector and might force them to close down their shops and give up the business. They said several young Saudi men and women who were trained for maintaining and repairing mobile phones were hesitant to take up their jobs. The owners described the business to be highly profitable if it was properly done and said expatriates had gained huge profits from the mobile and accessory shops. On the other hand, the labor office in Dammam said many towns and cities in the Eastern Province have honored the decision to nationalize jobs in the sector. It said 801 mobile shops in the province were totally committed to the decision and that only about 29 violations were registered during 810 inspection visits. The office said 348 shops were closed down for violating the Saudization rules.
