Saudis welcome flexible working hours as kingdom plans to boost employment rate

When Saad Al Hazani quit his studies four years ago to provide for his family, he did not think he would be able to finish his education.

But he said an initiative by the Saudi government to increase flexible working in the kingdom gave him hope of completing his studies.

Mr Al Hazani, 35, said he used to work as a salesman in the morning and study business administration at night.

“I could not continue my education because I used to work day and night, so being able to go to work now for a few hours, it makes my life much easier,” he said.

On Sunday, private sector employees in Saudi Arabia were told they could accept hourly work without requiring employers to pay holiday or end of service benefits.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development said it introduced its flexible work system to help people find a permanent job and empower the national workforce to improve their skills and experience.

The programme will also help the kingdom’s private sector to meet its urgent, temporary and seasonal needs for Saudi workers.

Ahmed Al Uthman, a human resources manager at a retail company in Jeddah, welcomed the move to encourage flexible working.

He said he hoped the initiative would benefit employees and their employers.

“As a business, it is a good selling point that you can encourage flexible working hours where you can. I hope the new system will increase the employment levels of Saudis who cannot or do not want to work in a full-time job,” Mr Al Uthman told The National.

He said greater flexibility in working hours could help people to feel more comfortable in their jobs and help businesses to improve their productivity levels.

Lujain Abdul Latif, who works in a shop in the Red Sea Mall in Jeddah, said flexible hours would be an important factor when she considered her next career move.

“Having flexible working allows me to help support my family and be a good mother at the same time,” she said.

“I love to attend events and volunteer for various activities that are happening in town. Now, I could apply for a flexible job that allows me to be the person that I want to be and also take care of my family.”

Khalid Al Harithy, a lawyer in Jeddah, said the initiative would help Saudi businesses to fill vacancies.

The plan will also reduce unemployment in the kingdom and ensure more people can earn money during the Covid-19 pandemic, he said.

“This is a significant step forward as a business to acknowledge and encourage our workforce that has unique needs and is going through different life stages,” he said.

“Our young Saudis need flexibility and trust and this new, exciting plan gives that and more.”

On Saturday, Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al Rajhi said the introduction of flexible hours would support the kingdom’s economy and help people to overcome the effects of the outbreak.

It will also help the kingdom to achieve the goals set out in the Saudi Vision 2030 by increasing Saudi participation in the labour market and reducing the unemployment rate.

The initiative will help people find a permanent job and empower the national workforce to improve their skills