The national program entrusted to help job seekers (Hafiz) has recently deposited a sum of SR 2.7 billion in the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries of the program for the holy month of Ramadan.

The number of beneficiaries in Ramadan stood at 1,365,391, which was an increase of 2 percent compared to an average increase of 5 percent during the last four months, spokesman and head of PR & media at the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) Sultan Al-Sari told the Saudi Press Agency.

The rate of female beneficiaries of the program has stood at 86 percent for the past four consecutive months. This rate surpassed 90 percent in Riyadh and Eastern Province. However, it was less than 75 percent in Jazan, Jouf, and Northern Border Province, Al-Sari said.

He said 75 percent of the program’s beneficiaries were concentrated in Makkah, Riyadh, Eastern, and Asir provinces, while the number of beneficiaries in Baha, Jouf, Northern Border, Najran, and Hail provinces collectively did not exceed 2 percent of the total beneficiaries.

He added that holders of secondary school certificates constituted the majority of both genders, 50 percent for male and 35 percent for female. Those holding bachelor degrees among male and female beneficiaries stood at 4 percent and 26 percent respectively, he said.

The program, run by HRDF, has been launched through a decree issued by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah aimed at supporting job seekers in order to enhance their chances of getting permanent jobs. The program provides SR 2,000 per month to each eligible beneficiary.