JEDDAH: The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) yesterday launched a scheme aimed at employing thousands of women in 700 industrial establishments in the city.
“The move comes as part of the JCCI’s efforts to invest in woman power for the all-around national development,” participants in a meeting held at the head office of the JCCI observed yesterday.
JCCI set up an action team comprising Ulfat Qabbani, a member of the board of directors of JCCI, Sameer Murad, chairman of the Industrial Committee of JCCI, Saud Tayyar and Fouzi Al-Nahdi, to supervise the speedy implementation of the scheme. “More than 25 factories have come forward in the initial stage of the scheme. A total of 56 industries will offer jobs for women,” said Qabbani, who is also chairperson of the Jeddah Council for Social Responsibility. She added that about 700 factories would participate in the second phase of the scheme to employ thousands of women.
“All arrangements have been made to train and prepare young Saudi women to work in various industrial firms. Industries related to the manufacture of medicine, perfumes, food, garments and home appliances are some of the areas suitable for women. They can also work in administrative and logistics sections in most other industries,” she said.
JCCI Secretary-General Mustafa Sabri said: “This unprecedented move will guarantee employment for Saudi women, only two percent of whom are currently working in the industrial sector. In other fields women workers have achieved a higher percentage. For instance 20 percent of employees in education and health sectors are women.”
