H.E. Minister of Labor and Social Development Ali bin Nasser Al-Ghafis met with several businessmen, CEOs and shopping centers owners on Thursday, Riyadh.
The gathering aimed to explore pathways that empower Saudi men and women to work and embark on their job opportunities in the retail sector.
Al-Ghafis emphasized the importance of partnership between MLSD and investors that support nationalization programs, adding the ministry and its affiliating entities are ready through their existing capabilities to provide full-fledged support for retailers and shopping centers owners in order to nationalize their jobs and make them available for Saudi citizens.
Al-Ghafis commended the owners’ initiative aiming to establish direct training centers in the centers across the regions which provide employment to Saudi nationals afterwards, facilitating nationalizing of job opportunities.
He said: ‘I am pleased with the shopping centers owners’ move to nationalize retail stores and their keenness to empower the son and daughters of the Kingdom to work’.
At the meeting, the participants explored ways to activate training, rehabilitation and employment programs for Saudi nationals and increase their participation in the labor market, as well as implement the third phase of feminizing and nationalizing women-only shops, which will come into force on October 21.
They addressed transportation and baby care centers for female workers and the motivational program that supports independent business owners and allows them to register with the GOSI as HRDF will pay for their insurance subscription.
The meeting was attended by MLSD senior officials, including Saleh Al-Amr, HRDF director-general, Dr. Abdullah Abuthnain, deputy minister for inspection and development of work environment, Dr. Ahmed Qattan, deputy minister for labor policies, and Dr. Ibrahim Al- Shafiei, deputy minister for social security.
Businessmen who were also present at the meeting included Eng. Khaled Al-Jasser, CEO of Al-Hokair Group, Ziyad Al-Rugaib, board member at Al Ruqaib Holding Co. & Wabel Co. (Sahara Mall), Eng. Abdullah Al-Muqbil, CEO of Wabel Al-Arabia for Investment, Faisal AL Abdulkarim, board member at Wabel Co. & Mohammad Al Abdulkarim Retail Co., and Fouad Al-Rashid, CEO at Asala Holding.
Taher Al-Dabbagh, chief human capital & corporate affairs officer of Landmark Group, was present alongside Khaled AL-Majed, CEO of Akeed Co., Khaled Al Shaibani, CEO of Hamat Co., Ahmed Al-Sultan, vice president of Nesk Group of Trading Projects, Majed Al- Muqbil, development general manager at Sarh Attaqnia Co., and Jameel Al-Asmari, HR director at Fawaz Alhokair Group.
