JEDDAH, 21 May 2003 — Saudi women are expected to get more job opportunities in various sectors in the coming years, as the government seeks to widen the scope for working women in the country. At present they constitute only four percent of the total Saudi work force but, according to an official source, the rate could reach 37 percent.
In his keynote address to the Shoura Council’s annual session on Saturday, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd made it clear that the government would widen the horizons for working women within the framework of Islamic teachings. He also said that women should play a major role in shaping the Kingdom’s future.
Dr. Abdul Wahid Al-Humaid, secretary-general of the Manpower Council, said the organization’s meeting last week had discussed the prospects of creating more jobs for women. “The coming years will witness creation of more job opportunities for women but within the framework of the existing laws,” he told Al-Watan daily.
The growing number of Saudi women in the job market is likely to affect expatriate workers. According to the source, the female Saudi work force would reach 11 percent of the total Saudi work force and 37 percent of the total female work force in the country.
Al-Humaid said it was difficult to identify the jobs which could be occupied by Saudi women replacing expatriates. He emphasized the need to enact laws that would help women get more job opportunities. A law issued in 1988 bars women from taking jobs which would result in their mixing with men.
“Saudi women have proved their ability and readiness to work. Moreover, they do not ask for as many conditions in terms of salaries and other benefits as Saudi men,” the secretary-general said.
However, he pointed out that Saudi women need to gain the necessary qualifications to win private sector jobs. “It is difficult to force private companies to employ a certain work force who are not qualified to take up the jobs required by them,” he said.
