Rashed Al-Fouzan Al-Riyadh newspaper According to a recent Gallup Poll, an estimated 2 million Saudi women are unemployed in the Kingdom. The gap between the employment rates of men and women exceed 22 percent. Figures which have been corroborated by the Ministry of Labor. This sad state of affairs reflects a huge waste of potential in light of the billions spent on Saudi women's education. There are thousands of work opportunities which could be made available to them but are not due to cultural taboos. There is no law that stipulates men's precedence in the job market, and I believe decisions should not be based on outdated customs and traditions as this hampers the progress of our nation. We must eliminate the obstacles that hinder women's active involvement in our economy. It is a moral imperative to legislate an environment which allows women to join the workforce in accordance with the rules and regulations of the land. I think it is high time that women are given the opportunity to contribute to society as capable citizens of the Kingdom.
