Industrial city for Saudi women soon

With unemployment among Saudi women estimated at more than 21 per cent, a women-only industrial city, the first of its kind, is to be established in Saudi Arabia soon.

The project was proposed by a group of Saudi businesswomen and has reportedly been approved by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, it was reported by Al Eqtisadiah, a local business daily, quoting Hussa Al Aun, a prominent businesswoman.

Saudi society is undergoing a massive transition in many ways, from political to social and cultural. Until a few years ago, women were confined to few professions, basically medicine and teaching. However, the growing number of educated women and their emerging aspirations are changing the local kaleidoscope. Women are now entering various fields.

One could see them as saleswomen in women only souqs and stores; they could also been seen working as computer operators in various women's computer houses. The number of women security guards at various places is also reportedly on rise.

A well known pharmaceutical company in Jeddah is now employing a number of Saudi women in their packaging and quality control departments. This was never heard of in this society.

The upcoming industrial city will focus on manufacturing foodstuffs, clothes and handicrafts and offer training opportunities for women in crafts like maintenance, painting, carpentry and masonry.

"We have received support from the ministry as well as from private and public companies," Al Aun said.

A constituent council for the industrial city would be established soon, she said. There are several proposals for the location of the new industrial city, which could be either an independent complex or part of the existing industrial city.

The project aims to provide jobs to Saudis who have completed secondary education. Administrative jobs will be earmarked for university graduates. "To start with, we will also make use of experienced non-Saudi women," Al Aun said. More and more job opportunities are becoming available to Saudi women, provided they are willing to take them and society allows them to do so.

With the right training and working environment, sales are an area that more and more women are entering.

Asia Al Qahtani has been working for four years as a saleswoman in Tima, selling abayas. "I have a high school diploma and didn't want to go to college. I'm happy with my job," she told Arab News.

Amal Hasan has a diploma in computer software programmes and works at the women's branch of Autoram Computer Stores. "Most of our software programmes are educational; so many women come in with their children. Some of the women don't know how to use a computer so we train them," she said.

Recently, Fitaihi Jewellery Stores opened its first store in Jeddah for women. The store was set up with the support of the National Project for Training and Employment in Makkah Region through the Women's Consultative Board.

Located on Tahlia Street, the store currently employs 45 women, 30 of them as sales-women and the others as administrators.

"The women went through an eight-month training period, focusing mostly on work ethics," said Ahmad Hasan Fitaihi, the owner and manager.

Another area attracting women, especially those without a college degree, is security guards. "This work opportunity has been available for women in banks for a while now but a little over a year ago, we began employing female security guards in shopping malls and we get many applicants," said Omar Abdul Latif, manager of the Safety and Security Institute.

"In some situations, a woman is better able to work as a security guard than a man," he said.

Unfortunately, not all women's jobs have been enthusiastically welcomed.

In Riyadh, for example, a few months ago a businesswoman opened a women-only cafe. It was staffed and managed by Saudi women and received some media attention.

The response from society was negative; there were objections to the idea of Saudi women working as waitresses. Both the owner and her employees were criticised and eventually the café had to be closed.

One of the main obstacles to women's employment is social restrictions and perceptions.

Clearly, however, with increasing economic pressures and lack of adequate job opportunities, more women are choosing to work instead of staying at home.

"Women have proven themselves in every field they have entered and we have to look carefully at the matter of women's employment," said Dr. Mahmoud Khan, a consultant.