Minister of Labor Dr Ghazi Al-Gosaibi has reiterated the keenness of the Ministry of Labor to make job opportunities available for the Saudi woman and to enable them to join the establishments of the private sector, provided that the recruitment of the woman suits her nature and does not run counter to the teachings of the Islamic Shariah and the deep-rooted
traditions of the Saudi society.
In a statement to SPA, Dr Al-Gosaibii said that, since ancient times, women have been working in the domains of trade, agriculture, grazing, sewing, cattle breeding, education, guidance and nursing in addition to their work at home and nurturing of children.
Dr Al-Gosaibi underscored the importance of enabling women to practice work which suits their nature. He pointed out that the decision of the Cabinet number 120, issued on 12.4.1425, pertaining to the recruitment of women did not aim at changing the situation as regards the job opportunities of the woman but, on the contrary, it aimed at the creation of more suitable environments in which women could work.
Citing the efforts of the Labor Ministry to recruitment of women, Dr Al-Gosaibi said these efforts included prevention of mixed works, avoidance of recruitment of woman for hazardous jobs in line with the article 160 of the labor system, avoidance of work requiring womento work between sunset and sunrise in line with the article 161of the labor system, enabling women to enjoy maternity leave of four weeks prior to the expected date of the birth of the child and six weeks after delivery in line with article 161 of the labor system, enabling women to provide care for their children in line with article 165 of the labor system, and making rest seats available for working women in line with article 171 of the labor system.
Moreover, Dr Al-Gosaibi said the Ministry will take into consideration the need of women for work and the need of the society for their work, the approval of her legal guardian, decency of working women and dressing according to Islamic tradition. A woman should perform work that suited her nature. Her work should not be at the expense of her family life, and it should not lead to social or moral problems.
Dr Al-Gosaibi said the number Saudi women working in the public sector stood at 231,007 and at 43,917 at the private sector.
