In the past few months Saudi Arabia has seen several attempts to encourage its women to work. The latest attempt was made by the Jedda Industrial-Commercial Committee, which announced it will soon open the first exhibition for women’s traditional industries, according to a report by the Arabic online daily Elaph.
The exhibition will show products manufactured at home by women, and will give a reward to the best product. Its aim is to encourage and develop the spirit of competition, creativity and cooperation between working women, as well as advancing the Islamic and Saudi traditions. The Jedda Industrial-Commercial Committee also said it aims at aiding and developing commercial projects for women who work from their homes.
The committee, said Elaph, is trying to give Saudi women a chance to be able to rely on themselves financially.
Earlier this month, the recruitment office in Jedda decided, for the first time in Saudi Arabia, to open a division that would give services for women looking for job opportunities out of their homes.
Top officials, whose names were not disclosed in the report, said ‘women sections’ should be set up in every office or institution which deals with big crowds. This is in order to provide women who attend these offices with better, more convenient service.
In order to promise that the traditional way of life is not harmed, several changes will be made. The women’s section will have a separate entrance, and there will be no mixing between the working men and women, said the Jedda recruitment office manager Qu’say Fulani.
Last month, Saudi Minister of Labor, Ghazi Al-Qu’seibi, issued a list of limitations on women’s working environment. According to Al-Qu’seibi, the purpose of the list was to increase working opportunities for women. The government of Saudi Arabia wishes, said Al-Qu’seibi, that women will also join the private sector, as long as their jobs are consistent with the woman’s nature and do not interfere with Islamic law and societal traditions.