Saudi Gazette report
RAWDAT KHURAIM – The Cabinet on Monday approved several measures to increase employment of women in suitable fields in public sector.
The Technical and Vocational Training Corporation has been tasked with increasing the absorptive capacity of technical and vocational training in areas that are suitable for women such as computer, office work and occupational activities at women’s detentions and care houses.
Similarly, the authorities concerned shall expand educational health programs for women, intensify such programs and create e-employment that enables women to work from home. The Ministry of Education and other concerned authorities have been directed to adopt administrative and regulatory measures to ensure jobs for women.
Showing posts with label unemployment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unemployment. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Saudi Arabia: Women graduates leave Kingdom for GCC jobs
By Aysha Afifi, Saudi Gazette
RIYADH – Many Saudi female graduates are being forced to look for jobs in neighboring countries as there are not enough opportunities for them in the Kingdom, Dr. Salwa Al-Khateeb, a King Saud University professor, said here Wednesday.
She said the number of unemployed female Saudi graduates has been increasing every year because of a lack of opportunities for them. This explains, she said, the trend of seeking jobs in neighboring countries. Several women graduates have now taken up teaching assignments in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, she said.
Official statistics, she said, show that 176,000 Saudi women graduates are unemployed which represents an unemployment rate of 26 percent. “Only 500,000 out of five million Saudi women have jobs. This shows that the total workforce of Saudi women in the Kingdom is only 10 percent which is the lowest in the world,” Dr. Al-Khateeb said.
The statistics also show that the majority of Saudi working women are employed by the government and occupy 31.1 percent of all public sector jobs. Most of these women work in the field of education, health and social affairs, she added.
Dr. Al-Khateeb said that Saudi working women are prevented from assuming an effective role in public life by social obstacles, such as, a lack of work culture, discipline, family cooperation and transportation.
She said that there are also professional obstacles facing Saudi working women, such as, the low scientific standard of the graduates and their lack of training and experience.
To overcome these deficiencies, Dr. Al-Khateeb suggested the introduction of new specializations in higher education to meet the requirements of the labor market, as well as establishing rules to protect working women.
She said that the government has always been keen on devoting a large portion of its budget to the development of human resources which is why in the 7th Five-Year Development Plan it allocated 57.1 percent for the development of human resources.
However, there is a need for more attention to be given to women because the high rate of women’s unemployment will definitely affect society’s growth and progress, she added.
She said the issue of women’s work is receiving due attention by researchers specialized in different aspects of human sciences, such as, sociology, education and anthropology, but that there are few studies on the employment of women in the private sector. – SG
RIYADH – Many Saudi female graduates are being forced to look for jobs in neighboring countries as there are not enough opportunities for them in the Kingdom, Dr. Salwa Al-Khateeb, a King Saud University professor, said here Wednesday.
She said the number of unemployed female Saudi graduates has been increasing every year because of a lack of opportunities for them. This explains, she said, the trend of seeking jobs in neighboring countries. Several women graduates have now taken up teaching assignments in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, she said.
Official statistics, she said, show that 176,000 Saudi women graduates are unemployed which represents an unemployment rate of 26 percent. “Only 500,000 out of five million Saudi women have jobs. This shows that the total workforce of Saudi women in the Kingdom is only 10 percent which is the lowest in the world,” Dr. Al-Khateeb said.
The statistics also show that the majority of Saudi working women are employed by the government and occupy 31.1 percent of all public sector jobs. Most of these women work in the field of education, health and social affairs, she added.
Dr. Al-Khateeb said that Saudi working women are prevented from assuming an effective role in public life by social obstacles, such as, a lack of work culture, discipline, family cooperation and transportation.
She said that there are also professional obstacles facing Saudi working women, such as, the low scientific standard of the graduates and their lack of training and experience.
To overcome these deficiencies, Dr. Al-Khateeb suggested the introduction of new specializations in higher education to meet the requirements of the labor market, as well as establishing rules to protect working women.
She said that the government has always been keen on devoting a large portion of its budget to the development of human resources which is why in the 7th Five-Year Development Plan it allocated 57.1 percent for the development of human resources.
However, there is a need for more attention to be given to women because the high rate of women’s unemployment will definitely affect society’s growth and progress, she added.
She said the issue of women’s work is receiving due attention by researchers specialized in different aspects of human sciences, such as, sociology, education and anthropology, but that there are few studies on the employment of women in the private sector. – SG
Monday, June 9, 2008
North Africa: Unemployment to blame for North Africa protests
RABAT- Unemployment disproportionately affecting young people is to blame for violent protests over the weekend in Morocco and Tunisia that killed one person and injured dozens, observers said.
"Endemic unemployment among young people from the Maghreb (northwestern Africa) is the cause of the protests that broke out in the past few days in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia," said Aziz, an activist from the Moroccan city of Sidi Ifni who asked not to be identified by his full name.
Clashes between security forces and young unemployed protesters erupted on Saturday in the Moroccan fishing port city 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Rabat.
The national unemployment rate stood at 9.7 percent in 2007, according to government statistics, but four out of 10 of these jobseekers were younger than 25.
In Tunisia, the national unemployment rate reached 14 percent in 2007, according to a Tunisian government official.
"Youth unemployment, especially among thousands of graduates in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia is the common denominator in the three countries where demonstrations periodically take place in cities," Khalid Cherkaoui, president of the Moroccan centre for human rights (CMDH), said.
Sidi Ifni saw its first such protests in 2006, young people in the area said.
The violence this weekend left 44 people injured, including 27 police officers, according to hospital sources in Sidi Ifni. CDMH estimates however that between one and five people died as a result of the clashes.
The Moroccan government denies this. "There was not one death," said spokesman Khalid Naciri.
In the southwest Tunisian city of Redeyef, one person was killed in protests on Friday and several were injured.
Here the demonstrations were ignited by allegations that the region's main employer had doctored a recruitment campaign. Protesters believed that officials from the Gafsa Phosphate Company had manipulated a selection process to their own advantage.
In Sidi Ifni, where fishing is the primary source of income, police used force to unblock the port where 89 trucks waited with loads of some 800 tonnes of fish.
The blockade had begun May 30 when the results of a recruitment campaign were unveiled and three successful candidates randomly picked. After the draw, around 120 angry youths moved towards the port and blocked operations, said socialist deputy Abdelwahab Belfkih.
Another elected official, Lahcen Achouad, said the "demands of the young people are socio-economic in nature. They are asking for an equitable distribution of the city's wealth."
-- Middle East Online
"Endemic unemployment among young people from the Maghreb (northwestern Africa) is the cause of the protests that broke out in the past few days in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia," said Aziz, an activist from the Moroccan city of Sidi Ifni who asked not to be identified by his full name.
Clashes between security forces and young unemployed protesters erupted on Saturday in the Moroccan fishing port city 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Rabat.
The national unemployment rate stood at 9.7 percent in 2007, according to government statistics, but four out of 10 of these jobseekers were younger than 25.
In Tunisia, the national unemployment rate reached 14 percent in 2007, according to a Tunisian government official.
"Youth unemployment, especially among thousands of graduates in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia is the common denominator in the three countries where demonstrations periodically take place in cities," Khalid Cherkaoui, president of the Moroccan centre for human rights (CMDH), said.
Sidi Ifni saw its first such protests in 2006, young people in the area said.
The violence this weekend left 44 people injured, including 27 police officers, according to hospital sources in Sidi Ifni. CDMH estimates however that between one and five people died as a result of the clashes.
The Moroccan government denies this. "There was not one death," said spokesman Khalid Naciri.
In the southwest Tunisian city of Redeyef, one person was killed in protests on Friday and several were injured.
Here the demonstrations were ignited by allegations that the region's main employer had doctored a recruitment campaign. Protesters believed that officials from the Gafsa Phosphate Company had manipulated a selection process to their own advantage.
In Sidi Ifni, where fishing is the primary source of income, police used force to unblock the port where 89 trucks waited with loads of some 800 tonnes of fish.
The blockade had begun May 30 when the results of a recruitment campaign were unveiled and three successful candidates randomly picked. After the draw, around 120 angry youths moved towards the port and blocked operations, said socialist deputy Abdelwahab Belfkih.
Another elected official, Lahcen Achouad, said the "demands of the young people are socio-economic in nature. They are asking for an equitable distribution of the city's wealth."
-- Middle East Online
Monday, April 28, 2008
Saudi Arabia: Scholars agree on rules for women employment
Religious scholars, intellectuals and the Supreme Economic Council have agreed on the religious regulations on the employment of women after detailed studies and discussions, according to Labour Minister Ghazi Al Gosaibi.
At a debate on ‘Labour sectors and employment: a dialogue between society and labour institutions’, held in Buraidah last week, Al Gosaibi called for sustained support from society to help his ministry successfully implement new employment policies.
Al Gosaibi said he wants to hear public’s views on how to solve employment issues. “People should advise and guide us as much as they criticise us,” and he said that there were no Islamic religious strictures preventing women from working.
He added that while guaranteeing women the right to work, Shariah stipulates that she should work in an appropriate environment, not mixing with men and without exposing to harassment.
On measures to replace foreign workers with Saudis, Al Gosaibi explained that like any other government department, the labour ministry could not stand against the interests of society. When people stressed the need to cut down on foreign labour, the government issued orders to check it.
Al Gosaibi said that in two years the ministry had succeeded in cutting down labour import by 700,000. This was accomplished despite protests from a section of society that claimed that restrictions on importing labour would jeopardise the developmental process.
He added that the ministry faced a dilemma — demands of the rapid economic development on one side and socio-economic obligation to employ the huge number of unemployed youths on the other.
Al Gosaibi said that to some extent he had to concede to pressures from some quarters that objected to the policy of restricting labour import. “The ministry yielded to the people’s pressure and issued 1,700,000 visas last year,” adding that unemployment was a tough challenge to grapple with. “The ministry did not, obviously, have a magic wand to do away with the problem. The ministry alone cannot change the work culture in society, neither could it change the customs and traditions that underlie the issue,” he said.
He added that the country’s youths preferred to work in the public sector because of the job security, high salary and more vacations available. “The private sector is not as generous as the public sector in such matters.” Al Gosaibi said his ministry faced the huge task of finding employment for 100,000 youths annually.
-- Khaleej Times
At a debate on ‘Labour sectors and employment: a dialogue between society and labour institutions’, held in Buraidah last week, Al Gosaibi called for sustained support from society to help his ministry successfully implement new employment policies.
Al Gosaibi said he wants to hear public’s views on how to solve employment issues. “People should advise and guide us as much as they criticise us,” and he said that there were no Islamic religious strictures preventing women from working.
He added that while guaranteeing women the right to work, Shariah stipulates that she should work in an appropriate environment, not mixing with men and without exposing to harassment.
On measures to replace foreign workers with Saudis, Al Gosaibi explained that like any other government department, the labour ministry could not stand against the interests of society. When people stressed the need to cut down on foreign labour, the government issued orders to check it.
Al Gosaibi said that in two years the ministry had succeeded in cutting down labour import by 700,000. This was accomplished despite protests from a section of society that claimed that restrictions on importing labour would jeopardise the developmental process.
He added that the ministry faced a dilemma — demands of the rapid economic development on one side and socio-economic obligation to employ the huge number of unemployed youths on the other.
Al Gosaibi said that to some extent he had to concede to pressures from some quarters that objected to the policy of restricting labour import. “The ministry yielded to the people’s pressure and issued 1,700,000 visas last year,” adding that unemployment was a tough challenge to grapple with. “The ministry did not, obviously, have a magic wand to do away with the problem. The ministry alone cannot change the work culture in society, neither could it change the customs and traditions that underlie the issue,” he said.
He added that the country’s youths preferred to work in the public sector because of the job security, high salary and more vacations available. “The private sector is not as generous as the public sector in such matters.” Al Gosaibi said his ministry faced the huge task of finding employment for 100,000 youths annually.
-- Khaleej Times
Monday, April 21, 2008
Saudi Arabia: Over 60 per cent of Saudi women are jobless
Riyadh: Unemployment among Saudi women rose to an alarming rate of 60.6 per cent, according to a new report of the Ministry of Economy and Planning. “The number of unemployed Saudis is put at 4.45 million. Of these women make up 60.6 per cent,” the report said.
The report was released on the eve of the Seventh National Forum for Dialogue, which is to discuss various aspects of unemployment problem. The theme of this year’s forum, which began in Buraida on Monday, is “Labour sectors and employment: A dialogue between society and labour institutions.”
According to organisers, the Buraida event will be a great opportunity for government officials in the labour sector to listen first hand to the problems of employment from the participants.
The ministry’s report showed that there has been an alarming increase in the percentage of unemployment even among the educated young Saudi men and women. “The workforce in Saudi Arabia accounted for 8.2 million last year, of which Saudi men constituted 40.9 per cent while women’s percentage was only 8.1.
As for expatriates, men make up 43 per cent while the remaining 7.3 per cent are women,” the report said. The female labour participation rate was extremely low in the kingdom as there will be little growth in government hiring, and the private sector is overwhelmingly dominated by foreign workforce. Saudi women comprise 55 per cent of graduates but make up only 5 per cent of the workforce in the Kingdom.
However, Abdul Rahman Al Rashid, president of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said that the percentage of Saudi women working in the private sector does not exceed five.
“The number of working Saudi women accounts for 565,000 from among 8.4 million women in the Kingdom,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted him as saying. Implementation sought Al Rashid, who is also president of the Eastern Province Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said the number of women registered for jobs at the chamber reached only 1,405.
According to a statistical report released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 2005, the number of women registered with the chambers in various regions of the kingdom accounts for only over 22,500. Al Rashid called for strict implementation of the regulations issued by the Council of Ministers with regard to providing jobs for qualified Saudi young women as well as to open ladies’ sections at government departments.
By Mariam Al Hakeem, Gulf News
The report was released on the eve of the Seventh National Forum for Dialogue, which is to discuss various aspects of unemployment problem. The theme of this year’s forum, which began in Buraida on Monday, is “Labour sectors and employment: A dialogue between society and labour institutions.”
According to organisers, the Buraida event will be a great opportunity for government officials in the labour sector to listen first hand to the problems of employment from the participants.
The ministry’s report showed that there has been an alarming increase in the percentage of unemployment even among the educated young Saudi men and women. “The workforce in Saudi Arabia accounted for 8.2 million last year, of which Saudi men constituted 40.9 per cent while women’s percentage was only 8.1.
As for expatriates, men make up 43 per cent while the remaining 7.3 per cent are women,” the report said. The female labour participation rate was extremely low in the kingdom as there will be little growth in government hiring, and the private sector is overwhelmingly dominated by foreign workforce. Saudi women comprise 55 per cent of graduates but make up only 5 per cent of the workforce in the Kingdom.
However, Abdul Rahman Al Rashid, president of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said that the percentage of Saudi women working in the private sector does not exceed five.
“The number of working Saudi women accounts for 565,000 from among 8.4 million women in the Kingdom,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted him as saying. Implementation sought Al Rashid, who is also president of the Eastern Province Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said the number of women registered for jobs at the chamber reached only 1,405.
According to a statistical report released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 2005, the number of women registered with the chambers in various regions of the kingdom accounts for only over 22,500. Al Rashid called for strict implementation of the regulations issued by the Council of Ministers with regard to providing jobs for qualified Saudi young women as well as to open ladies’ sections at government departments.
By Mariam Al Hakeem, Gulf News
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Algeria: 17% of jobs held by women
A recent census showed that women are representing 17% of the overall employment market in Algeria. The majority are working in the health sector, estimated at 49%, followed by the education sector, which employs up to 48%, the Minister for Family and Women, Mrs. Nouara Djafer, has unveiled.
The works of the international meeting bearing the title “female entrepreneurs in Algeria, opportunities, barriers, and horizons”, sponsored by the Ministry for Family and Women, was launched yesterday in Algiers.
She further announced that the initiative adopted by several women a few years ago, has achieved its objectives, as these female entrepreneurs have contributed in the unemployment rate decrease.
Furthermore, Mrs. Djafer added that the rate of employed women is estimated at 17% of the whole workforce, saying that the female judges have achieved 35% of the sector’s workers.
According to some participants, the sector employing more women is health, 49%, while 48% are employed in the education sector, but even though women have proven skills, they are not allowed holding top positions, concluded Mrs. Djaafar.
-- Al Khabar News
The works of the international meeting bearing the title “female entrepreneurs in Algeria, opportunities, barriers, and horizons”, sponsored by the Ministry for Family and Women, was launched yesterday in Algiers.
She further announced that the initiative adopted by several women a few years ago, has achieved its objectives, as these female entrepreneurs have contributed in the unemployment rate decrease.
Furthermore, Mrs. Djafer added that the rate of employed women is estimated at 17% of the whole workforce, saying that the female judges have achieved 35% of the sector’s workers.
According to some participants, the sector employing more women is health, 49%, while 48% are employed in the education sector, but even though women have proven skills, they are not allowed holding top positions, concluded Mrs. Djaafar.
-- Al Khabar News
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Saudi Arabia: Government needs to tackle unemployment among youth
Recently published statistics point to the rising problem of unemployment in Saudi Arabia. According to the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the jobless rate among Saudis stood at 11.2 per cent in the first half of 2007.
The figure compares unfavourably with a reported unemployment rate of 11 per cent in the first half of 2006.
The number of Saudis without jobs stood at 453,994 in the first half of 2007, up by some 8,796 compared to the corresponding period in 2006.
In fact, the opposite should have been true in the light of improved economic conditions, thanks to rocketing oil prices. The petroleum sector accounts for more than three quarters of the budgetary revenue, and thus plays a primary role in the country's economic activities. Saudi Arabia's real (adjusted for inflation) gross domestic product (GDP) grew 3.5 per cent in 2007. The kingdom saw an inflation rate of 6.5 per cent last year.
Statistics released by the ministry suggest worsening employment prospects for women. The jobless rate among women has increased from 24.7 per cent in the first half of 2006 to 26.6 per cent in the same period in 2007. Conversely, the unemployment rate among males continued to hover around eight per cent during the same period.
Still, men and women between the ages of 20 and 24 account for 44 per cent of jobless nationals.
Undoubtedly, the Saudi economy loses the contribution of an active age group. Needless to say, unemployment among the youth poses a threat to public order. Terror organisations look for recruits among youths suffering from social problems and neglect.
The latest jobless figures make the prospects of achieving manpower goals of the 8th Development Plan only more difficult. The plan envisages some 139,000 job seekers by 2009 versus 268,000 Saudis looking for employment opportunities in 2004. In fact, the plan expects the Saudi unemployment rate to drop from seven per cent in 2004 to merely 2.8 per cent by 2009.
Likewise, it would be extraordinarily difficult to achieve the Eighth Development Plan forecasts with regards to contribution of females in the workforce. The plan envisages females representing 17.9 per cent of Saudi national workforce by 2009 versus 12.2 per cent in 2004.
At stake is not creating enough employment opportunities per se, but rather the right jobs for Saudi nationals. Saudis do not just desire any kind of jobs. They do not want low-paying menial jobs.
One plan for tackling unemployment proposes restricting certain jobs for nationals. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs restricts some 40 kinds of jobs to locals. These include taxi drivers, training and purchasing managers, public relations officers, administrative assistants, secretaries, operators, debt collectors, customer service accountants, tellers, postmen, data handlers, librarians, booksellers, ticket kiosk keepers, auto salesmen, janitors, internal mail handlers and tour guides. Officials say that Saudi nationals prefer such professions.
Undoubtedly, the government cannot overlook the employment problem. For one, it is believed that extremist groups often find recruits among the jobless. Also, some 38 per cent of Saudis are below the age of 14 and hence expected to enter the job market soon. The authorities have an opportunity to make maximum benefits of outstanding economic conditions to address the problem. Suffice to say, the budget recorded surplus of $47 billion in fiscal year 2007.
- Written byDr. Jasim Ali, a member of parliament, Bahrain, for Gulf News
The figure compares unfavourably with a reported unemployment rate of 11 per cent in the first half of 2006.
The number of Saudis without jobs stood at 453,994 in the first half of 2007, up by some 8,796 compared to the corresponding period in 2006.
In fact, the opposite should have been true in the light of improved economic conditions, thanks to rocketing oil prices. The petroleum sector accounts for more than three quarters of the budgetary revenue, and thus plays a primary role in the country's economic activities. Saudi Arabia's real (adjusted for inflation) gross domestic product (GDP) grew 3.5 per cent in 2007. The kingdom saw an inflation rate of 6.5 per cent last year.
Statistics released by the ministry suggest worsening employment prospects for women. The jobless rate among women has increased from 24.7 per cent in the first half of 2006 to 26.6 per cent in the same period in 2007. Conversely, the unemployment rate among males continued to hover around eight per cent during the same period.
Still, men and women between the ages of 20 and 24 account for 44 per cent of jobless nationals.
Undoubtedly, the Saudi economy loses the contribution of an active age group. Needless to say, unemployment among the youth poses a threat to public order. Terror organisations look for recruits among youths suffering from social problems and neglect.
The latest jobless figures make the prospects of achieving manpower goals of the 8th Development Plan only more difficult. The plan envisages some 139,000 job seekers by 2009 versus 268,000 Saudis looking for employment opportunities in 2004. In fact, the plan expects the Saudi unemployment rate to drop from seven per cent in 2004 to merely 2.8 per cent by 2009.
Likewise, it would be extraordinarily difficult to achieve the Eighth Development Plan forecasts with regards to contribution of females in the workforce. The plan envisages females representing 17.9 per cent of Saudi national workforce by 2009 versus 12.2 per cent in 2004.
At stake is not creating enough employment opportunities per se, but rather the right jobs for Saudi nationals. Saudis do not just desire any kind of jobs. They do not want low-paying menial jobs.
One plan for tackling unemployment proposes restricting certain jobs for nationals. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs restricts some 40 kinds of jobs to locals. These include taxi drivers, training and purchasing managers, public relations officers, administrative assistants, secretaries, operators, debt collectors, customer service accountants, tellers, postmen, data handlers, librarians, booksellers, ticket kiosk keepers, auto salesmen, janitors, internal mail handlers and tour guides. Officials say that Saudi nationals prefer such professions.
Undoubtedly, the government cannot overlook the employment problem. For one, it is believed that extremist groups often find recruits among the jobless. Also, some 38 per cent of Saudis are below the age of 14 and hence expected to enter the job market soon. The authorities have an opportunity to make maximum benefits of outstanding economic conditions to address the problem. Suffice to say, the budget recorded surplus of $47 billion in fiscal year 2007.
- Written byDr. Jasim Ali, a member of parliament, Bahrain, for Gulf News
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)