The Shoura Council has urged the Ministry of Social Affairs to increase benefits for women who are the sole breadwinners of their families.

The council’s committee for social affairs, family and youth made the proposal recently during a discussion on a ministry report.

The committee also called for the ministry to introduce strict regulations to protect residents of foster homes from ill-treatment and violence.

The ministry report said that there was insufficient provision for programs for families, women, youth and childhood development. It said that too much time and money was being spent on begging and runaway maids. The committee urged the ministry to focus on its core responsibilities, and let other government bodies deal with these two issues.

The ministry said the Ministries of Health, Interior and Education should take up some of its functions. It also wants salary increases for its social workers to prevent them from leaving and seeking employment elsewhere.

In its report, the ministry said that it does not have suitable land to build foster centers, especially in major cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. The ministry also stated that many of its workers were performing poorly at shelters and foster homes, particularly those dealing with the elderly and people with disabilities.

The Shoura Council will vote on the recommendations of the committee related to the annual performance of the ministry after debate by members.