RIYADH, Feb 21: Saudi Arabia is determined to eradicate unemployment within five years and increase the pace of 'Saudization', Labor Minister Dr Ghazi Al-Gosaibi told the ongoing 6th Jeddah Economic Forum on Sunday.

"There is a plan to employ 120,000 Saudis in the private sector every year," he said focusing on the national employment strategy.

Labour Minister Gosaibi emphasized that the ongoing programme of 'Saudization' 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 is also being given due importance with the opening of 40 more secondary schools kingdom wide.

The apprehensions expressed by the private sector that they are still not fully prepared to Saudize their staff are unfounded, the minister said. "They're used to importing foreign labour for the last 30 years and naturally find it difficult to carry on without them.

They should be able to get over the passing phase and adjust themselves to the growing reality of employing Saudi labour," he said. Referring to the employment of women in the private sector, Gosaibi said a large majority of families would not want their women to work in the private sector.

"Women should either work from home or remain housewives, as the housewife also has a role to play in taking care of the family, especially children." However, in the case of the private sector employing women in substantial numbers, it would be an ideal thing to provide them separate places of work, he added.

The minister also mentioned the Saudization of limousine drivers and said the implementation had to be deferred, as the companies were not fully prepared. "But then this has to come sooner than later and all private sector companies have to show their preparedness to implement the programme," he said. "This, however, does not mean that the kingdom can do without foreign labour. We'll still need skilled labour until our own workforce is fully trained to take over."

The minister commended the services being rendered by expatriates for the kingdom's development. "We are proud of the foreign work force, which has extended its expertize to the private sector and organizations," he said and opposed a proposal to tax expatriate workers.

The minister emphasized the need for radical reforms in education in tune with the requirements of the labour market. "Some 40 secondary schools have been established across the country with a completely new approach helping students to display their skills and capabilities," he pointed out.

He said the private sector had been acclimatized with employment of Saudis. The Manpower Development Fund is currently supporting 40,000 Saudis to get employed in private companies. He disclosed plans to establish an employment centre.