JEDDAH, 28 February 2003 — Statistics show that Saudi women are making no headway in finding employment in the private sector despite government encouragement.

What’s stopping them?

At present, Saudi women form only one percent of females working in the private sector, and even they are paid less than foreigners. Does the private sector even follow the government line when it comes to employing Saudi women?

Society has come to terms with Saudi women doing low-paid jobs that they would not have considered doing in the past. Fathers and husbands accept the idea that their wives and daughters have to work. Sometimes fathers even try to help their daughters find jobs so they can supplement their husbands’ income. However, the private sector — especially hospitals — prefers foreign women because they can deal more comfortably with male customers or patients, and also adapt to the job more easily.

“I have been working in this hospital for three years and my salary is SR1,500,” a Saudi woman called Halema told Al-Madinah newspaper recently. “I accepted the job in the hope that I would soon get a raise, but it hasn’t happened yet. I’m surprised that the hospital hasn’t rewarded me despite my hard work and dedication. Of course, there is no law to force them.”

Most foreigners are in important managerial positions, she says, and they are doing what they can to get rid of Saudis since they are seen as threats. “They receive better pay and more benefits than we Saudis do,” she added.

“There are a fair number of Saudi women working in private hospitals, but their situation never improves,” agrees Randa Al-Reheli, a receptionist at a private hospital.

“The working conditions for Saudi women in the private sector are getting worse. They have many problems when they start work — such as transportation to and from the job and having to run the house and take care of the children.”

Hanadi Al-Katheri works as a secretary in a private hospital. “The nature of my job would not suit Saudi women in general. Saudi society has a different perspective on men and women mixing in workplaces and on how women should deal with men. The hospital gives foreigners more benefits than us because they think they are better at the job. I wish we had training programs for Saudi workers to improve themselves,” she said.

Al-Madinah also spoke to Dr. Nadia Baeshen, head of the Business and Management Department at King Abdul Aziz University, who has analyzed the conditions of Saudi women working in the private sector.

She said that the private sector had never tried to employ Saudi women. Most Saudi women work as teachers, in private hospitals and in the women’s branches of banks. She said there should be a special training section for women to qualify them for work in the many available jobs.

According to a survey conducted by the House of Economic Studies, many factors deter women from accepting job offers. One is working hours — 28 percent of women refuse work because it takes them away from their families. The second factor is having to deal with men — 27 percent refuse work because of this.

Transportation to and from work is another major problem.