IN an article I wrote recently, I referred to a statement made by Labor Minister Adel Fakieh in which he said more than 250,000 Saudis have benefited from the jobs left vacant by expatriates following the recent status correction campaign. He said the campaign also reduced the rate of unemployment in the country. As expected, the campaign did not result in the employment of women, as all the deportees were men. The minister spoke about the obstacles impeding the employment of women and said they would be studied in depth. This issue also came up for discussion at the third social forum recently held in Al-Khobar. The forum asked the Labor Ministry to look for new work fields for women and to continue its drive to feminize jobs in lingerie and accessory shops. It urged the ministry to create a suitable work environment for women working in the private sector. The lack of this suitable environment has prevented women from taking up leading positions in the private sector though they are qualified for them. The appointment of a number of women in the Shoura Council is enough proof that women are qualified to assume top positions. Currently, job opportunities available for women are low paid. They include cashiers, saleswomen at lingerie shops, workers in factories manufacturing air conditioners and fish packers. The forum also discussed the issue of transport and childcare, two important issues facing working women. Employed women often spend about half of their income on the salaries of their drivers and the other half on nursery homes or housemaids. So working women are left with nothing at the end of the day. Is there any solution to this problem? I hope so.
