A group of 20 deaf girls are preparing to enter the labor market by taking a course organized by Jeddah's Women Deaf Club that trains them to work effectively and teaches them about their rights. Fayza Natto, president of the organization, was quoted by Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic newspaper as saying that 150 deaf girls have been employed in the private sector, noting that the girls have faced difficulties in the workplace because they lacked awareness of their work rights and colleagues could not use sign language to communicate with them. “The course is aimed at qualifying the girls for the labor market, getting them acquainted with related regulations and providing them with methods and ways to deal with their bosses and other people,” she said. In the course, which started Saturday, students are learning about the Labor Office's regulations and how to examine work contracts, she added. The issue of people not knowing sign language is being addressed through courses provided by Jeddah's Women Deaf Club, Natto said. It started giving the courses two years ago to a number of female journalists as part of a project to train and develop the abilities of female journalists, which is sponsored by Princess Seeta Bint Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, a member of the Higher Council of the Women Deaf Club in Jeddah, Natto was quoted by the newspaper a saying. The courses were also given to 150 women who work in health care, she added. “We will continue giving these courses in several sectors including the Passports Department, Labor Office and schools,” she said, adding that everyone needs to know sign language. Natto said she believes sign language should be learned by those working in large companies and government offices because deaf people are part of society and it is the only way to communicate with most of them. “Devices to improve hearing are used by some deaf people, but they are very expensive,” she said. Natto said the Solidarity Charitable Project headed by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, has worked to prevent the exploitation of people with special needs through improper employment practices. It does not give information about the deaf people to a company that wants to hire them unless the project officials receive an official company letter showing the job title, salary and type of health insurance, she said.
