A large number of young women are cleaners at several schools, colleges and other institutions in the southern Asir province.
They have become role models for Saudi women job seekers who can potentially take advantage of the vast job opportunities available in this field.
Apart from supporting their families, these women are instrumental in elevating the status of a cleaner to a dignified profession, as well as confronting the deep-rooted stigma prevailing in Saudi society toward this type of work.
Ummu Salman is a cleaner herself. The Saudi, who worked at a charity society after she completed her training, is now working at a home science college.
“I am paid SR1,400 that helps me to support my sick husband and big family of 18,” she said.
“Getting jobs in various sectors is really a gateway of hope for many Saudi women who are struggling to make ends meet. There is nothing that prevents Saudi women from doing such jobs except the social stigma,” she said. Ummu Salman is proud to point out that she received immense support and backing from her peers. “I am also finding time to do cleaning jobs for some special parties organized by my friends as well as at some charity societies in the region,” she said.
According to Ummu Salman, she takes great satisfaction in being able to interact with people.
“As far as my children and I are concerned, we are proud of this job. I encourage my children to do such jobs after inculcating in them a strong feeling that all jobs are dignified and respectable,” she said.
Ayesha Ali, a Saudi cleaner at a private school, also said that she is proud of her job. She urged young Saudi women job seekers to take up such jobs.
Ala Al-Asemi, member of an academic faculty at King Khaled University, said Saudi women cleaners could compete with non-Saudis vis-à-vis productivity.
“Moreover, Saudi women have some extra advantages,” she added.
“They are well acquainted with the culture and traditions of society. I especially noticed that some Saudi women cleaners prefer doing this type of work to begging,” she said. She added there were several Saudi women who take up cleaning jobs at houses or parties and they have proved their efficiency and skill.
“Despite their meager monthly salaries ranging between SR1,300 and SR1,500, these women are proud of doing these jobs to support their families,” she said, underscoring the need for serious efforts from society to understand their problems and support them.
“Most of these women are keen to support their sick or elderly husbands and children by doing such jobs. They shoulder a major responsibility of supporting their families in their hour of need,” she said, urging major companies to provide training programs for those women willing to do such jobs.
Hussein Al-Mury, director of the Labor Office in Asir province, said the government is striving to identify suitable jobs for Saudi women. “That is why we have increased the number of teachers, instructors and employees in various programs in a way that does not contravene Islamic teachings,” he said.
“A government decision that came into effect seven years ago has opened doors for many women job seekers in various fields to support society as well as boost social and economic growth. Consequently, a large number of women have taken up employment in various sectors.”
On her part, Fatima Al-Qahtani, an official in charge of human resources in a private firm, said there were certain terms and conditions for women to work at her company, including not mingling with men and accepting fixed hours of duty. “Saudi working women are instrumental in reducing foreign manpower. As they know Saudi traditions and customs better than foreigners, they can perform better in domestic jobs,” she said.
“This would also contribute substantially to addressing unemployment among Saudi women, especially among poor and weaker groups such as widows and divorcees,” she said.
Dr. Khaled Jalban, consultant of family and community medicine and dean of the health sciences faculty at King Khaled University, said it is unfortunate that there is a tendency in society to judge an individual according to the type of job he or she does.
“On the other hand, we should develop a quite different mentality where we consider every individual a respectable human irrespective of the work he or she does,” he said.
“I hope there will be a big change in Saudi society with more and more women coming forward to take up jobs in various fields, including those that many now consider as beneath them.”
He urged society to help women become more prominent in the employment market so they could support themselves as well as their families and realize their goals with increased self-confidence.
