In a significant first, the Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry will appoint 36 Saudi women to a variety of jobs in the political, economic, women's rights and computer departments, press reports said yesterday. "The appointments will occur within three weeks," said Prince Khaled bin Saud, director of the department for financial and administrative affairs. He said a large number of women had already applied for the jobs. Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal revealed last week plans to hire women as part of the country's political reforms. The minister added that some women would be appointed to key posts. According to a report in Okaz Arabic daily, the Foreign Ministry is now in the process of developing its women's section. The move comes in the wake of a Cabinet decision last year instructing all government departments to open sections for women. Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi announced Friday that his ministry would launch a campaign to register female jobseekers soon after the opening of women's sections at its branch offices. He has promised to increase job opportunities for women in the private sector.
