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.
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