The Labor Ministry announced bold plans to create more employment opportunities for women. In his announcement, Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi has set up a committee to study this important issue and added, “In coordination with other government departments, the group will conduct a survey of shops selling women’s accessories.”
Now that is well and good, Mr. Minister, and I applaud your noble intentions. But for as long as I remember, when committees are set up, they usually spell the death of a good intent. My hairs have been gradually turning gray waiting for results from other such committees set up to make life easier for the common folk.
And in just about a majority of these cases, nobody seems to remember what conclusions the hallowed members of those committees had reached. Come to think of it, I even forget what issue those committees were set up in the first place to study! Our bureaucracy mandates that the setting up of a committee is usually a sign of doom for whatever good intentions are meant for consideration.
There were committees set up to improve our beachfronts, others set up to provide recreation areas, others to evaluate our utilities, and zoning of neighborhoods. I can also remember more than one committee being set up to study our sewage problems, our airport, our schools, and so on and on and on.
And therefore if you allow me, honorable minister, enough of formations of committees whose working progress the general public seems to know little or nothing about. Unless the efforts of these committees are made public, their progress is continually monitored and a time limit is set for them to reach the conclusion of their study, we will continue to wait for the fruits of their labor. And wait we have in the past.
Perhaps one way of getting us all involved and interested in what such committees are up to is to make the findings of these committees public as they happen. List all these bands of committees and the issues they have been tasked with. This way, you, me, and just about everybody on the street would be able to understand and appreciate the hard work that goes behind the walls when the members of these committees get together.
In the meantime, let us address the issue of employment for women. It does not take a committee to realize that women should take over businesses concerned with their personal issues. Retail cosmetic outlets are one of them. Boutiques and lingerie shops are another. It does not need a committee to realize that these businesses are ready and ripe for the introduction of a female work force.
And for their protection, let the law come down hard on those who intend to disrespect them. There is honor in working for your daily bread, which applies both to men and women. Let no man dishonor it.
