Labor Ministry Launches Huge Initiative to Employ as Many as 200,000 Women
Maha Akeel, Arab News 

JEDDAH, 27 January 2005 � In a move meant to get as many as 200,000 women into the Kingdom�s labor force, the Ministry of Labor is launching an ambitious registration and employment campaign during the next six months.

Unemployment among women was put at 21 percent, according to government statistics. A recent study has shown that some 92,000 women working in Riyadh represent only six percent of the total work force.

The study showed that the greatest percentage of unemployed women workers � 97.6 percent � is in the 30-39 age group.

Approximately 200,000 unemployed women are expected to benefit from the ministry�s campaign. Some of the jobs that have been identified for Saudization for women are receptionists, tailor-shop and wedding-hall employees, nutritionists, governesses, marketers, secretaries, photographers, beauticians, caterers, and hospitality and amusement park employees.

The employment campaign will be carried out in stages, starting with training opportunities for those interested in these jobs with support from the Human Resources Development Fund.

The moves are being hailed by women � with some reservations.

�I think it�s about time they addressed women�s unemployment seriously. Why spend so much money educating us and not give us an opportunity to contribute back to society?� asked Amal Ahmad, a post-graduate university student in computer science.

�But I�m disappointed in the types of jobs they want us to occupy. It seems that we will be replacing low-paid expatriates and taking up low-skilled jobs with no future.�

As for the number of unemployed women, some suspect the number won�t be that high.

�I don�t think that many girls are serious about having a career as much as working in any job until they are married or have children,� said Nabila Mokhtar. �Maybe that�s why employers don�t like to hire women. It may appear that there are many unemployed women, but most of them are not really looking for a job, so I don�t know if they can be considered as unemployed.�

Figures may support her suspicions.

The upcoming drive follows a similar campaign by the ministry to register unemployed Saudi men, which came out more than 180,000 less than the 300,000 figure issued by the General Statistics Department, according to Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi.

�The number of job-seekers registered so far under the ministry�s employment campaign was 180,443. This figure represents the actual number of job-seekers who have genuine interest in finding work. The ministry hopes that this figure will be endorsed instead of estimates,� said Dr. Al-Gosaibi.

Other ministries and even the private sector are bolstering job opportunities for Saudi women.

The Ministry of Water and Electricity announced last week that it will open women�s sections in all its branches to better serve female customers. The ministry will employ university graduates with degrees in accounting, computer science and administration.

�These sections will be administered by women who will be trained in all aspects of customer service and administration,� said Luai Al-Musallam of the ministry.

Dr. Saad Al-Ghamdi, executive vice president of Abdul Latif Jameel Co. Ltd., recently signed a contract with a national company to build the Nafisa Shams Institute for Vocational Training and Development for Women � the first of its kind in the Kingdom. The aim of this project is give women, both married and unmarried, the chance to learn professions or trades they can practice in their communities. The institute plans to graduate 700 female students in its first year.

The institute will be a two-story building erected on a 10,000 sq. mt. lot consisting of a number of workshops for practical training as well as classrooms for other learning activities. The institute will concentrate on 11 vocational-training fields that have been selected to match the current needs of the Saudi labor market for women, including computer, secretarial, reception, baby-sitting, photography and video, confectionery and pastry preparation, food preparation, beautician, seamstress, physical training, carpet and basket work as well as fashion and jewelry design. English classes also will be offered.

Named in honor of the late mother of ALJ President Abdul Latif Jameel, the construction contract provides for completion of the institute by the end of 2005 so that study may commence at the beginning of the 2006 academic year. There will be close cooperation between ALJ Fund for Vocational Training and Development and the institute to provide financial aid to female trainees who need assistance to attend classes.

Originally published in Arab News, January 27, 2005. Reprinted with permission.