Following the hiring of Saudi women by Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) in Riyadh, its Jubail branch is following suit; Ten Saudi women employees are newly joining the branch.

A company source said the new employees will hold positions in purchasing, management, information technology and other departments.

A separate section for them is being created.

“Hiring Saudi women in Jubail is part of SABIC’s strategy of empowering women after they have proved themselves in the main branch in Riyadh. Yanbu will be the third to follow at the beginning of 2014,” the source added.

According to the source, Saudi female employees at SABIC enjoy full employment rights and also carry out full duties like their male counterparts.

They get advantages like health insurance and bonus, besides the monthly salary.

Al-Zamil Food Factory in the industrial city of Jubail has succeeded in hiring 17 Saudi females to work at the factory’s production line in a private environment that allows them to work without any obstacles.

Mohammed Al-Dossari, factory manager, said the company decided to hire women following the government orientation.

The factory hired nine women earlier and they showed skills that are of high quality and superior to their male counterparts.

“That has encouraged the company to hire more females taking their total to 17, and the company is considering increasing this number in the near future,” Al-Dossari added.

According to Al-Dossary, the female employees were enthusiastic and contributed to the company’s productivity with loyalty, dedication and hard work.

He also expressed the company’s pride to have taken the initiative to employ Saudi women who have been contributing to increasing the company’s production. They are happy and contented in a safe and healthy work environment, he added,

The factory’s manager also praised the punctuality and full commitment demonstrated by the women employees.

Safia Al-Ghobaishi, an employee at the factory, said they found support and encouragement at their workplaces.

“We women aspire for taking up factory jobs, especially food-related.”

Her colleague Shurooq Al-Khaldi expressed her happiness for the opportunity given to work in a factory.

She said: “We believe we are well qualified and capable to work in factories that have high international quality standards.”