Saturday, August 06, 2005

[Saudi Arabia] Anti-poverty strategy prepared for Saudis

From The Khaleej Times

JEDDAH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who has long been engaged in eradicating poverty and unemployment in Saudi Arabia, has been presented with the national strategy for eliminating poverty, which has been under preparation for three years since the King first requested it, when he was Crown Prince.

Abdul Mohsen Al Akkas, minister of social affairs, said the strategy included 19 detailed studies and reports that presented statistics and information on the economic, social, health and education aspects of the Kingdom.

This strategy is considered to be the launching stage for addressing the problem of poverty and the start of direct and immediate steps towards solving it. The proposal comes at an ideal moment as the Kingdom is enjoying a period of economic prosperity, providing it with the financial means and capability to implement the foundations for both a short and long-term strategy.

The government began a major campaign to eradicate poverty after King Abdullah’s visit to a poor area in Riyadh back in November 2002. As part of this campaign the government established a fund to combat poverty, which intends to turn the poor into productive citizens, rather than keeping them dependent upon society. It aims to promote the concept of productive families by financing cottage industries.

The Prince Abdullah Foundation, a charity established by King Abdullah, has embarked on a project to build emergency housing units for the poor in six villages on the kingdom’s west and east coasts. A nationwide survey revealed that poverty exists in many parts of the Kingdom, often as a result of unemployment.

The survey that was conducted by the Prince Abdullah Foundation for Housing also revealed a growing crime rate in some parts of the country. Drug abuse and smuggling are on the increase in the northern border area and housing conditions in some towns are dire. Officials who conducted the survey blamed unemployment and inadequate social security allowances for the poverty. The officials noted a lack of infrastructure and utility services such as electricity, water, schools and roads in some villages. King Abdullah has expressed his determination to bring an end to these distressing issues. Royal family members, businesses and individuals have responded well to the King’s call and initiated programmes and projects for housing, employment and training.

The government launched a number of charitable housing projects in various parts of the country. The projects provide decent housing facilities for those who need them. Recently, SR2 billion was allocated from the budget surplus for the low-cost housing scheme.

The Prince Salman Charitable Housing Project in Riyadh is currently building four housing complexes in the capital. According to Dr Abdul Aziz Al Masoud, assistant secretary-general of the project, a total of 455 houses will be built under the scheme. The first complex will have 122 houses to accommodate about 800 people. The second complex was designed to have 126 housing units. These would be handed over to deserving individuals and families within a few months. Each housing complex is provided with a mosque, cultural centre, shopping centre, park, playground and public utility. Crown Prince Sultan has donated SR3 million to the project.

The keys to 30 villas were given to the poor under the first phase of a charitable housing project launched by the Prince Sultan Foundation in Tabuk. The project, which was carried out at a cost of SR22.7 million, includes 120 housing units, a mosque, schools and commercial centres.

Last year, the Higher Women’s Committee for Social and Humanitarian Services in the Makkah region distributed 300 housing units to those who needed them. The committee also took the initiative to build 120 housing units for the victims of flash floods in the Shaaba district of Khalees. A number of villages and townships in the region still require housing units.

The low-cost charitable housing project in the Eastern Province, named after Prince Muhammad bin Fahd, received a donation of SR1 million from the Princess Anoud Charitable Foundation. Similar philanthropic projects are being carried out in other parts of the country with the support of governors, princes and businessmen.

Meanwhile, an ambitious campaign to employ Saudis was launched by the ministry of labour last year. Saudi Arabia is determined to eradicate unemployment within five years and increase the pace of Saudisation. Labour Minister Dr Ghazi Al Gosaibi said a few months ago: “There is a plan to employ 120,000 Saudis in the private sector every year.”

Al Gosaibi emphasised that the ongoing programme of Saudisation was in full swing and all qualified and skilled Saudis would find jobs. The Kingdom has 75 training institutes with extensive courses for various professions and vocations. “They’re expected to train 300,000 young Saudis within three years,” the minister said, adding that education was also being given due importance with the opening of 40 more secondary schools Kingdomwide.

Deputy Labour Minister Ahmad Al Zamil said the ministry was seeking to provide more job opportunities for Saudis in the Saudi market by implementing the legislation passed by the Council of Ministers.

According to the new legislation, any institution with less than 10 employees must employ one Saudi. Industrial or business companies with work forces of 20 employees or more must have 30 per cent Saudis, or 10 percent for maintenance or contracting companies.

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