RIYADH — The government of Saudi Arabia has announced a raft of reforms and initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of both Saudis and expatriates over the recent years. Saudi women are the major beneficiaries of these reforms that have focused on strengthening their role in the national development, which has had a positive impact on their lives in a short span of less than two years. These come in the form of the right to drive as well as the right to travel and complete civil status procedures without the permission of a male blood relative, the Saudi Press Agency reported. In the form of amendments to existing laws, the new regulations remove restrictions on women's travel, recognize their status as head of households, and ensure their equitable access to employment opportunities, pay, maternity leave, and retirement, among other social and economic rights. The concerned government agencies have begun implementing the amendments approved recently by the Council of Ministers on Travel Document and Civil Status Regulations as well as the labor and social insurance regulations. At the social level, the amended travel documents law allows women to get passports issued for themselves as well as for their legal dependents without the need for prior approval. It also allows women of the age of 21 and above to travel outside the Kingdom without obtaining any permission. Recognized as heads of households in the new regulations, women are granted equal rights to undertake many family-related civil registry functions, including registration of marriage, divorce, childbirth, death, and selection of place of residence. With respect to the economic rights, the new reforms grant women equal right in employment, salary, recruitment, and ban any form of discrimination. The amendments made in the labor regulations have enabled women to enhance their role in the labor market and contribute to the development of the national economy. The amendments in this sector included standardization of wages, same employment procedures for women and men, and preventing dismissal of the woman employee during her maternity leave. It is noteworthy to note that the new amendments complement many reforms that have been introduced in the Kingdom in less than two years, and these include allowing women to drive, approval of anti-harassment law, and empowerment of women to establish and manage businesses without prior approval and opening new business sectors for them. The government has moved swiftly to implement the new regulations and has deployed all its resources, including its digital platforms, to ensure that women begin enjoying their new rights and obligations immediately. The reforms have also enabled Saudi women to take up several key leadership positions in both the public and private sectors. All these reforms have produced positive impacts on enhancing the role of women in society and increase their contribution to the development process under the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
