An increasing number of Saudis reject the society's perception of technical jobs to take up vocational work, as the government tries to move hundreds of thousands of people into private sector jobs - its most ambitious economic reform effort for decades.
SHOWS: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (SEPTEMBER 3, 2014) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
1. EXTERIOR OF CAR REPAIR CENTRE
2. CARS BEING DRIVEN AWAY FOR MAINTENANCE
3. VARIOUS OF SAUDI MEN CHECKING CAR
4. VARIOUS OF LAPTOP SCREEN SHOWING MAINTENANCE SOFTWARE
5. VARIOUS OF OWNER OF CAR REPAIR CENTER AND HIS SON WORKING
6. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABO SAFI, OWNER OF CAR REPAIR CENTRE, SAYING:
"The first job I had was to wash spare items for technicians who were older than me, then I gradually learned the profession and finished a course in Germany. When I came back I started up a workshop and now, instead of being a technician who earns 50 riyals (a day), I have three workshops and my sons: Safi, Mahmoud and Saeed all work in their own workshops."
7. ABO SAFI AND HIS SON WORKING
8. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAFI AL-SHAMRANI, SON OF OWNER OF CAR REPAIR CENTRE, SAYING :
"Labour market in our country is wide and open and there are many opportunities with big financial gains, it just needs some hard work with a lot of effort and determination. Anyone can achieve his targets like I did."
9. VARIOUS OF SYRIAN TECHNICIANS FIXING CAR
10. (SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) YASIN SHEHADA ,SYRIAN TECHNICIAN AT CAR REPAIR CENTER, SAYING:
"There has been a time when the technician field had not even one Saudi working in it, but recently, thank God, we started to see them, they are highly enthusiastic, need some improvement but their enthusiasm is amazing."
11. CUSTOMER PAYING MONEY TO ABO SAFI
12. EXTERIOR OF THE RITZ CARLTON HOTEL IN RIYADH
13. HOTEL LOBBY
14. JABER AL ABSI, CHEF ASSISTANT AT THE RITZ CARLTON HOTEL IN RIYADH, CUTTING ROSEMARY HERBS
15. VARIOUS OF AL ABSI COOKING
16. WAITER CARRYING DISH TO HOTEL RESTAURANT
17. (SOUNBITE)(Arabic) JABER AL-ABSI, CHEF ASSISTANT AT THE RITZ CARLTON HOTEL IN RIYADH ,SAYING:
"I am a Saudi young man who has always loved cooking, cooking is my hobby. My ambition was to reach a high position in this career, but the society's perception about such jobs makes it difficult. It often perceives such jobs as if they are something to be ashamed of."
18. VARIOUS OF AL ABSI ADDING SPICES AND OIL ON STAKE MEAT
19. (SOUNBITE)(Arabic) JABER AL-ABSI, CHEF ASSISTANT AT THE RITZ CARLTON HOTEL IN RIYADH, SAYING:
"I was able to overcome all the obstacles with strong will and determination, I wanted to overcome these difficulties and thank God, I did"
20. VARIOUS OF AL-ABSI COOKING STAKE ON GRILL
