JEDDAH: Plans are under way to ensure more Saudi women are employed as dressmakers and hairdressers, said Mona Khamis, head of the Women's Employment Section at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI). Currently only 30 percent of Saudi women jobseekers in Jeddah are employed in these two professions, which are suited to the conservative nature of Saudi society, said Khamis. To work out a plan for training, the Human Resources Development Fund “Hadaf” has organized a workshop which will be attended by various role players, including Dr. Basmah Mosleh Omair, Chief Executive Officer of the Sayeda Khadijah Bint Khuwailid Center for Businesswomen at the JCCI. Howaida Betaysh, head of Hadaf, said the fund contributes to the cost of the two-year training courses. The fund pays SR5,000 in the first year and SR10,000 in the second year which covers part of the fees and monthly stipend for each trainee over the training period. She said the fund has interviewed 50 Saudi female jobseekers who have received training and have employed them at 15 dressmaking and hairdressing shops.
