Tabuk Pharmaceutical Manufac-turing Company has announced plans to increase its female employee intake in the next 5 years by hiring 200-300 additional females in Tabuk, Riyadh and Dammam to increase their share of the total headcount to 20 percent. Tabuk's commitment to the employment of Saudi females is aligned with an organization-wide initiative to support gender diversity, and increase the representation of women in the workplace.

The initiative has three priorities: To improve Tabuk's ability to attract, develop and retain Saudi women by supporting a variety of internal talent development initiatives, to encourage female access to the workplace by offering scholarships, apprenticeship and mentorship to distinguished Saudi female students, and to participate in external initiatives aimed at fostering female professional development, entrepreneurship, and access to leadership positions.

Tabuk Pharmaceuticals' CEO Ismail Bel-Bachir, said, "Women play a crucial role as contributors and agents of change in society. They are a unique resource for human development that can be effectively utilized in the national economy. Unlocking the potential of women in the workplace is of significant importance to the company and to the Kingdom.

"Tabuk Pharmaceuticals has placed itself at the forefront of this change a few years ago. We believe that supporting gender equality in the workplace is not only the right thing to do, but can also have a substantial impact on economic growth and society at large in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. And we reckon that we can make, at our level, a meaningful difference," he added.

Back in 2011, Tabuk Pharmaceuticals initiated a comprehensive human capital building program for Saudi females.