The government negotiates with southern Algeria’s angy people

Algeria’s interior minister Dahou Ould Kablia, agriculture minister Rachid Ben Aissa and water minister Hocine Nassib held a meeting with representtaives of civil society and residents in the provinces of Ouarguela and Ghardaia (south of Algeria) to talk about employment issue, in an attempt to attract jobless people to other sectors but oil companies, Echorouk has learnt.

A total of 30 representtaives exposed their problems and suffering with oil companies based in Ouarguela and Ghardaia. They complained of exclusion and favorism as oil companies hire people from the north under the pretext that residents do not speak foreign languages.

The three ministers tried to convince the representtaives to look for jobs out of hydrocarbons. Ould Kablia said people from the south will be appointed as prefects. He promised to give new instructions to prefects to be strict in employment procedures and submit detailed reports about them.

The agriculture minister said the government will take new measures in favor of young farmers who want to carry out investment projects. They will get 100-percent-support and interest on bank loans will be reduced.

Nassib made a presenttaion about ways to support farmers such as wells digging and irrigation.

All it seems that the government is in a mission to convince residents in the south to invest in the agricultural field.

« During this meeting, solutions and programs prepared by the concerned ministries were presented, » said a release issued by the interior ministry.

Yet, it did not give more details about those solutions and their implementation.

« The meeting is part of regular meetings about the study of different economic and social aspects of employment. Other meetings are planned with energy, industry and tourism ministries in the newt few days, » according to the release.