New fleet of 76 public transport buses starts operation in Jeddah on Tuesday Environmentally friendly electric buses introduced for first time    Foreign investors are allowed to engage in real estate business outside Makkah and Madinah Commercial speculation should not be the purpose of real estate transaction    EU preparing 'further countermeasures' to protect its interest, von der Leyen says    Saudi Arabia urges stronger global action to protect children in cyberspace at UN    Musk's X is suing India, as Tesla and Starlink plan entry    Tesla sales plunge after backlash against Elon Musk    Saudi Arabia posts SR49.8 billion travel surplus in 2024 as visitor spending hits SR153.6 billion    911 emergency centers handle over 2.8 million calls in March    Israel announces expansion of military operation in Gaza to seize 'large areas' of land    US cancels visa of Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias    Danish prime minister refutes US claim on Greenland on visit to the Arctic territory    Aubameyang fires Al Qadsiah into King's Cup final with stoppage-time winner over Al Raed    Cristiano Ronaldo joins Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves    Saudi Arabia welcomes trilateral border treaty between Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan    Swedish table tennis legend Jörgen Persson appointed head coach of Saudi national team    Danilo Pereira fires Al Ittihad into King's Cup final with dramatic stoppage-time double    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Employment will empower women
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 20 - 04 - 2017


Al-Jazirah
UNEMPLOYMENT is causing headaches for the Kingdom's decision-makers despite the ongoing efforts to nationalize jobs and create new job opportunities. Now the question is what's the solution?
Statistics indicate that Saudization of jobs does not exceed 15.48 percent in the private sector, on which the Vision 2030 depends heavily to realize its objectives.
Foreign workers still dominate the workforce in private companies and this has complicated the country's unemployment problem. The General Statistics Authority announced recently that the rate of jobseekers among Saudi men reached 19.4 percent and 80.6 percent among women.
Unemployment among women is more complicated because of cultural and social factors. Some people still consider sending women to work places a shame while others do not like their women working in a mixed atmosphere. Transport and non-availability of daycare centers are other factors that obstruct women's employment.
In this contest the bold initiatives taken by some women to establish own home-based business ventures must be appreciated and encouraged. These women make use of Instagram and other social media platforms to market their products and services. They are also engaged in other innovative initiatives — mostly related to food production — to earn a living.
The mobile food cart of Ameena, a young Saudi woman, is one such initiative. She has obtained a license from the municipality. Ameena is considered the first Saudi woman to invest in a mobile food cart in Saihat governorate in the Eastern Province. She has received the support of a number of trained women and the project is named "Arabat Banat Al-Balad."
This is an inspiring idea and opens a new horizon for women's employment. But there is a problem facing Ameena and her colleagues in moving the cart from one place to another. She has to get the support of a driver to move the cart. She should also receive the license to drive the cart from one place to another instead of waiting for a male driver to do that job.
At present Ameena and her colleagues cannot do this business independently without the support of a male driver, who has to stay with them all the time. Freedom is essential for the progress of any business venture. Women should take personal, security, social and economic precautions to ensure success of their business activities. Ameena and her colleagues should be given license to drive the cart from one place to another to overcome this impediment.
No doubt, unemployment is a frightening specter for Saudi men as well as women. Apart from the financial deficiency and its bad consequences, we should not ignore its psychological and other negative impacts on an unemployed person and his family. Women suffer more from the consequences of unemployment due to unfair treatment and denial of their legitimate rights.
Employment will certainly empower women as it would help them earn some money to stand firm on their feet without depending on others, ensure her identity and win her full rights.


Clic here to read the story from its source.