JEDDAH: Bab Rizq Jameel (BRJ), a project of the ALJ Community Initiatives, has created 2,977 job opportunities in September 2010, the company said in its press statement. The project was launched with support from the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) as well as the Saudi Credit and Saving Bank and in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor's branch offices. The job opportunities were created across the Kingdom through the diversified BRJ's job creation programs. Through training ending with employment program, 236 job opportunities have been created. The beneficiaries attended the training courses in vocational skills like welding, production and turnery. In addition, 566 jobs have been created through the direct employment program, in coordination and in keeping with the policies of the HRDF. Through the program, the jobs offered by the private companies for the young men and women were for training specialists, marketing representatives and cashiers. In cooperation with BRJ, Al-Shaiy International Trading Company, Panda and Al-Hukair gave employment to the graduates with salary of up to SR3,000. Based on the Grameen Bank's microfinance concept, the BRJ “productive household” program provided support for 1,732 women throughout the Kingdom to start their micro projects. In this program, beneficiaries receive interest-free loans of up to SR5,000. In their micro projects, the woman sell perfumes, incense, clothes, make-up products and accessories. In the area of small-project finance program, BRJ financed 366 small projects during the month. The program, which provides interest-free loans of SR50,000 on the average, created livelihood opportunities for the new project owners and created additional jobs by expanding and developing existing projects. BRJ seeks to provide support from the HRDF for the owners of small projects. During the month, the taxi ownership program and the truck ownership program provided 77 job opportunities. In the taxi ownership program, 11 jobs were created for young Saudi men who work as taxi drivers and finally own their cars after full payment on easy installments. At least 66 young men benefited from the truck ownership program which provides trucks for young Saudi males to transport goods, equipment and passengers.
