A total of 395,000 expatriate workers ran away from their employers in 2013, according to a report released recently by the Ministry of Labor.

The report also revealed that 65,000 of the runaways were domestic workers, with males making up 51 percent and females 49 percent. Domestic workers made up 37 percent of those who absconded. Sixty-three percent left on exit and entry visas but did not return to the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the ministry revealed in its report that the private sector had employed 400,000 Saudi women by the end of 2013, an increase of 183,000 from 2012.

The report said that the ministry has taken several measures to provide jobs for women in the country. This includes paying half the salaries of workers in the private sector. It had also raised the minimum wage of teachers to SR5,000 and provided them each a SR600 monthly transport allowance.

The ministry said that these measures would ensure more women are employed in the education sector. Other actions that would assist women in the workplace include regulations governing shops where they work and creating more jobs in various fields, including private schools and wedding halls, the report said.

The ministry said that it has launched awareness campaigns on the importance of women working, issuing guidelines on conditions of employment, transportation and encouraging private firms to employ women, especially those with special needs.

The report said that the ministry has paid special attention to women's employment because of the sensitivity of the issue in Saudi society.

The number of Saudi women working in the private sector has grown significantly from 48,406 in 2009 to around 100,000 in 2011, and more than 217,000 in 2012.

The ministry has published its draft legislation on women's employment on www.ma3an.gov.sa for public comment.