Saudi- BRJ increases job opportunities by 7% in Q3

(MENAFN- Arab News) Bab Rizq Jameel (BRJ) has increased Saudi job opportunities in Q3 by seven percent over Q3, 2012, amounting to 11,579. This was achieved thanks to Bab Rizq Jameel's (BRJ) cooperation with the Ministry of Labor, Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF), Credit and Savings Bank and Social Charity Fund. BRJ, an initiative of ALJ Community Initiatives, has increased the total job opportunities it has created up to now in 2013 to 50,327, representing an additional 906 jobs compared to Q3, 2012. The majority, 71 percent of employment opportunities were generated for women versus 29 percent for men. The results have not been independently verified as yet. Reviewing the Q3, 2013 results Abdul Rahman Al-Fehaid, BRJ executive director in Saudi Arabia, revealed that 5,063 of the jobs were created within the productive household program. Based on the microfinance concept, the productive household program provides interest-free loans, starting at SR2,000 given during the first stage to then reach SR6,000 for each woman in a group of three to five to start their own micro projects. Projects commonly consist of selling accessories, such as for weddings, the art of gift-wrapping, embroidery, sales of perfumes, providing makeup, tailoring and other ventures. The loan is repayable in simple installments spread over twelve months. The program is not simply about financing but should be linked to creating an opportunity to work from home. Al Fehaid added that the direct employment program came second in terms of generating the largest amount of jobs at 5,644, of which 2,965 opened up for men and 2,679 vacancies were filled by women. The program matches job seekers with suitable positions at private sector companies. Employers can search for qualified job seekers using the BRJ database. Most of the vacancies covered production, sales, security guarding, but also other professions. Companies participating in BRJ's program during this year's third quarter included Al Shai'a International, Rudhwah Commercial Company, Kamal Osman Jamjoom Establishment, Fawaz Abdul Aziz Al Hukair Fashion and Retail Co., and Bin Dawood Markets. The results revealed an equally large interest by women looking for jobs, as well as companies responding with suitable positions for women. Rola Basamad, BRJ's Employment Director for Women in Saudi Arabia commented that 2,679 women found employment throughout the Kingdom. Positions in sales were the most sought after, because the companies interested in employing women modified the conditions of the sales job, to suit them better such as increasing salaries, approving a one-shift system and employing a male supervisor in showrooms. Basamad expressed her appreciation for the Ministry of Labor's efforts to for open this field for women, helping them get decent salaries and a rewarding job. From January to end of October 2013, BRJ created 50,327 job opportunities through its branches in the Kingdom. The results are verified by Deloitte & Touche Bakr Abulkhair & Co., according to the procedures agreed upon between them and ALJ Community Initiatives.