Hadaf: 600% increase in women’s employment

[al-Hasani]

Muhammad Al-Abdullah

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

DAMMAM — The employment of women in the private sector has increased by 600 percent, according to the deputy director general for special programs at the Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf).

Fahd Al-Tekhaifi said this follows reports that the rate of unemployment among women rose to 35.9 percent in 2011 compared to 28.4 percent in 2009.

He attributed the increased presence of women in the Saudi job market to their keenness to find employment and royal decrees that opened the way for female workers to join many fields other than healthcare and education.
He said the percentage of female job seekers in Hafiz program rose to 77 percent, which means there are now about 1 million Saudi women who are actively searching for jobs.

“The rise in the number of female job seekers is a big challenge that must be dealt with. Finding job opportunities for women is a joint responsibility of the government and the private sector as well as the training and education authorities,” he said.

Al-Tekhaifi said the third stage of feminization of shops that sell women’s clothing and accessories will begin soon. The Ministry of Labor is planning to replace salesmen with saleswomen in all shops that sell women’s clothes and accessories over the next three years.

“The increase in the number of females working in production lines is another good indication that both the private and government sectors are finding ways to employ women. Also, statistics show that shops are complying with the feminization decision,” he added.

According to Al-Tekhaifi, the government is trying to solve the issue of late working hours, something which has prevented many women from joining sectors that require employees to work evening shifts.

The issue will be looked into by the Shoura Council and Hadaf is following a new approach in financing projects for women’s transportation and children’s nurseries.

Director general of the General Administration for Social Dialogue Khulood Al-Qahtani said a recommendation to specify working hours in the private sector has been submitted to Minister of Labor Adel Fakieh who has in turn referred it for royal approval.

Saudi Gazette - Hadaf: 600% increase in women’s employment

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