Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Human Resources Development Fund (HADAF) affirmed that the new regulation to provide subsidy for jobseekers, which was approved by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, would contribute to raising the efficiency of the services being provided by the fund to train and qualify male and female Saudi job seekers so as to enable them to take up jobs, as well as to enhance their readiness to enter the labor market.

According to HADAF, the new regulation aims to support job seekers and motivate them to enter the labor market, raise the efficiency of services and rehabilitation and training programs provided to them, and maximize their benefits from the services. The regulation also supports the beneficiaries in their job search and enhances their readiness to work.

In a statement carried by Saudi Press Agency, HADAF noted that the regulation would contribute to reducing the beneficiaries’ dependence on unauthorized people either to update their data electronically who can access the confidentiality of their data. It will also help those who do not benefit from financial support to have training and employment services provided by the fund.

According to the Cabinet decision, this regulation replaces the regulation of the job search subsidy adopted by the Cabinet nearly 10 years ago and the regulation of the financial provision for difficulty obtaining work approved seven years ago. HADAF will continue disbursing the financial aid to the current beneficiaries of the two programs of the search for work benefit and the financial provision for difficulty finding employment, until the end of the specified period, according to the policies of the two programs.

HADAF has been successfully implementing these programs namely Hafiz Searching for Employment Program and Hafiz Difficulty Finding Employment Program. The fund provides rehabilitation, training and employment support programs for the beneficiaries of the two programs, as well as incentive to find work, in order to develop their skills and abilities, based on the goals and mission of the Fund to enable the sons and daughters of the nation to join the labor market and participate in the current national development drive.

The Hafiz Searching for Employment Program provides training and motivational services as well as monthly financial assistance of up to SR2000 in order to support and enable the job search. These are meant for active jobseekers with a desire to gain knowledge and skills on their way to find employment. Jobseekers, who have enrolled in Hafiz, gain access to job placement centers, TAQAT online job postings, Liqaat career fairs, as well as numerous education and training offerings, and many other services. They also receive financial support for a period of one year to ease the financial strain of unemployment and allow them to fully focus on finding a job.

Hafiz Difficulty Finding Employment Program aims to support male and female jobseekers in the age group of 20-60 who face any difficulties in getting a job. The program provides the beneficiaries with an integrated support or subsidy system through training and qualifying the beneficiary in addition to monthly financial assistance as stimulation in the serious job-seeking journey.

The beneficiaries of the program can have a weekly entry process to enhance direct contact with the program, which helps the beneficiary to see all the information and instructions related to the program on the one hand, and the services provided by training and qualification courses, and to help him search for suitable opportunities to work in the private sector on the other hand.