Mohammad Al-Ghamdi Okaz/Saudi Gazette RIYADH — The Hafiz unemployment program was successful in securing jobs for only 43,000 of a total of 1,390,483 individuals currently receiving monthly subsidies. The government has so far paid out more than SR25 billion to the beneficiaries since the program began. Although the conditions of the program are detailed, a review report on Hafiz does not explain the low employment ratio. A database of all recipients of funding is updated weekly for employment purposes. Beneficiaries are informed of available training programs and employment opportunities. Any beneficiary who refuses three employment opportunities as per his qualifications and experience will be removed from the Hafiz program. A beneficiary will also be removed if he/she would not attend four training programs as required by Hafiz. A beneficiary who fails to attend employment interviews for four times will also be removed from Hafiz. A beneficiary's subsidy will be reduced by SR200 every time any of the listed offenses occur.
