JEDDAH, 17 January 2008 — The lack of employed women in the Saudi labor force creates an imbalance in which only thirty percent of the population provide financial support to the great majority, said chairman Saleh Al-Turki of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) yesterday.
“Even in a country like South Africa, women’s participation in the job market is higher than any other country in the Middle East,” he said. “In order to achieve competitiveness of economy, we need a highly qualified labor force to increase productivity and therefore increase the general income of the country, ” Al-Turki said during a presentation at the JCCI on the importance of working women in Islamic history.
He noted that to be able to achieve economic competitiveness, employment should be based on qualifications and not on gender, saying that women’s involvement in economy and in the job market should be emphasized and encouraged.
“The Labor Ministry’s plan demonstrated that those who have the best qualifications should be hired. Jobs are not only for men,” Al-Turki pointed out.
Under Saudi law, for a women to start, own or run a business, she needs the consent of her legal male guardian, or mahram, who must be a relative by blood or marriage, or in some cases where legal custody is being disputed, a court judge.
Basma Al-Omair, director of Khadija bint Khuwailid Center at JCCI, reinforced the role of the center in supporting Saudi businesswomen and helping them overcome social and economic problems.
In cooperation with IPSOS, a research company in the Middle East, the center did a survey of 697 Saudi citizens in Jeddah regarding women’s contribution to national development.
“The results showed that 78 percent of women are unemployed and 22 percent are employed. On the other hand, 21 percent of men are unemployed and 79 percent are employed,” Al-Omair said.
The survey also revealed that 45 percent believe that there are no hurdles that hinder the participation of women in the job market. “Only 55 percent see the obstacles that working women face… as for the rest, I honestly am not sure if they’re living with us and see what’s happening,” she added.
The center was named after Khadija bint Khuwailid, the first grade merchant and businesswoman who possessed a quality and a vision that the center adopted to create a role model for all Arab Muslim women.
