A letter from the labor minister to the governor of Makkah said that the new labor law had nullified the article that prohibited men from mixing with women in the workplace. This rule was replaced with a general clause applying to both men and women employees. When an employer applies this system then they would in effect be abiding by the requirements of the Shariah. The letter also mentioned that the Ministry of Labor is the official body responsible for implementing regulations related to workingwomen. It also noted that the interference of other agencies in its work would be considered a violation of acts governing the Council of Ministers.
The letter also reflected the problems that arise when ambiguous vocabulary is used. It addressed the issue of some officials interfering with the labor minister’s work. If the ministry operates under the directives of the Council of Ministers, then it is not appropriate to merely refer to people intruding as a violation. As a governmental body, the ministry must do everything possible to protect its work from the unnecessary involvement of third parties. It must use all necessary means to prevent others from interfering.
For instance, some institutions that employ large numbers of Saudi women are in need of protection — especially from those bodies that nose into the Labor Ministry’s responsibilities. We do not want the issue of workingwomen to turn into a headache that stumbles and hinders the development of these institutions or companies that have come up with realistic initiatives.
Having women in the job market requires a clear and defined mechanism that is free from ambiguity. The general public also needs to know what the rules are and who the official authorities that are responsible for putting everything and everyone in place. Projects are subject to failure when the rules are unclear to people. Colleges and universities that graduate thousands of women would lose credibility if their role were tied to increasing the rate of unemployment.
Do we forget the story of Afra, a young Saudi woman from Sakaka? Her father had died and for years she lived with her 13-member family selling empty soft-drink cans that her mother and siblings collected. After Afra graduated from university with her master’s degree, she was jobless until a generous official offered her a job. How many Afras do we have?
To make a long story short, expansion in the field of workingwomen would contribute to eradicating poverty, helping women and ending the suffering of numerous families. Instead of making things difficult, give women the confidence to work in peace.
