Officials of the National Committee for Contractors (NCC) and the Human Resources Development Fund during their meeting.

The Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC) and the Human Resources Development Fund are exploring the possibility of Saudizing the work force in the construction sector but the scarcity of skilled Saudi manpower is a major cause for concern in the sector where mega projects are under way.

In steps to find solutions to the problem, the CSC and the HRDF have formed a joint committee with the National Committee for Contractors (NCC) to support their endeavor. The two parties agreed after a meeting held recently to support the HRDF to become a member of the committee formed by the Ministry of Labor and the Contractors Committee.

The meeting which also discussed the issue of the shortage of Saudi skilled labor was attended by Fahad Al-Hammadi, NCC head and a number of its members in the construction sector and HRDF Director General Ibrahim Al-Mouaikel. They suggested practical steps to deal with the burgeoning problem.

According to Al-Hammadi, the new committee will strive to meet the needs of contractors for national human resources. It will also seek to develop human potential and develop careers in the construction sector. Additionally, the establishment of a database will keep the market abreast of changes and any new development under the scheme this year.

It was also agreed to involve the HRDF to undertake a study on localizing the sector this year, in addition to its task of conducting field trips for the commission members to the Colleges of Excellence (CoE). They also discussed the possibility of establishing a joint training center or specialized institutes to train manpower for the construction industry.

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