The time has come for us to establish special training centers to provide employment opportunities for Saudi women willing to work as domestic helpers. We need qualified and trusted people to take on such jobs as cleaning, cooking, baby-sitting and other household chores.
The need for trained women domestic workers is no less important than hiring qualified men and women for any other job.
The nature of the lives we lead today with all their complications and restraints makes such a project imperative. We must not forget the social problems which have resulted from our heavy reliance on foreign workers, especially domestic helpers. The risks that families — and in particular children — face because of foreign workers are substantial. There is also the problem of working Saudi mothers who find themselves forced to hire domestic helpers or take extended leave from work and perhaps risk losing their jobs.
In the absence of a child care system that gives working women enough time to look after their children, many women are forced to stay at home. When they are finally free to return to work, they often find they no longer have a job.
Setting up centers for training domestic workers should be seriously considered. Women willing to work as helpers in families should be given special training before being allowed to care for children whose parents are away at work — or to do any other house work at all. Terms of employment must include working hours, salaries, days off; everything must be clearly defined so that all parties know what is required and expected of them. Apart from giving jobs to Saudi women and providing families with trained and trustworthy workers, such an arrangement would reduce dependence on foreign workers and protect our children from abuse.
Work is worship and God created people to do different kinds of jobs according to their physical and mental powers. There is nothing wrong with our women taking such jobs as long as the job allows them to live decent lives without being dependent on others.
Arab News From the Local Press 8 January 2003
