Short-term jobs work against women

Dubai: I have started my own companies in the UAE and both companies employ women.

The field we work in offers good opportunities to part-time workers and therefore our company initially offered part-time positions as well.

However, the part-time mindset is of very poor commitment and hence we have abandoned this way of employment.

The women working for me in a full-time position, however, are very dedicated and take pride in their work.

They care, are good communicators and stand up for their rights and want to be heard, put forward ideas, take responsibility and are a pleasure to work with.

Most of them climb the ladder quickly within the organisation and take on extra education provided by the company in order to take the next step up.

In our organisation there is no difference in opportunities because of gender.

Unfortunately, we have lost over the years at least eight very good female employees due to job opportunities abroad for their husbands, not always because his was the main source of income.

This is always a setback for an employer and I can imagine that certain organisations would therefore favour a male applicant.

In general I do think that in the UAE women can have the same opportunities as men, most likely also with similar packages, but it is not a given.

It is, however, the women that are only in it for a short time who create an in-between market, which then creates a wariness within the general employment of women.

— The writer is an owner of veterinary service companies in the UAE and a Gulf News reader.