The Ministry of Civil Service has rejected accusations that it has been slow in finding jobs for Saudi women. There are 20,000 vacant nursing and other medical jobs available for Saudi females, said Abdul Aziz Al-Khunain, spokesman for the Ministry of Civil Service. “The ministry does not differentiate between men and women. Qualified women can apply for vacant jobs,” he said. The ministry is focusing on the health sector because of the drastic shortage of medical professionals, Al-Khunain added. He said Saudi women have filled all the vacancies in the education sector. There are also vacant positions at other government departments including social affairs, higher education and in the military, he confirmed. The ministry is working with pertinent government agencies to enforce the Royal Decree that calls for more government agencies and departments to open women's departments. This would create more jobs for women, he said. Dr. Fahd Al-Tekhaifi, Assistant Undersecretary for Development at the Ministry of Labor, said there are now more Saudi women seeking jobs, compared to the limited vacancies available. However, he added, there has been a 46 percent increase in the number of Saudi women working in the private sector. He said the ministry will conduct a study to determine obstacles and find solutions for women's unemployment in the country. “It will also launch awareness campaigns focusing on the importance of the participation of women in the Saudi labor market, within the clear limits of the Shariah.” Meanwhile, Dr. Aisha Nato, a member of the board of directors of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and member of the High Council of Vocational and Technical Training, said there are 850 professions suitable for women but they are not yet available for them. “The national committee of the JCCI sent a list of these professions to the Ministry of Labor but they have not received a response yet,” she said. __
