Small to medium companies not fit to employ Saudi women

Business sectors in the Kingdom with less than 500 workers are not fit to employ women, at least according to assessments made by the Ministry of Labor’s adviser.
In his report, the consultant stated that these kind of firms are unable to implement the ministry’s guidelines to provide a proper working environment for Saudi females.
Samer Hussein, adviser to the ministry and chairman of the Human Resources Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that private sector companies that completed the minimum Saudization requirements in Nitiqat Program 1 and 2, will face a crisis in raising nationalization levels. According to Hussein, this is because nationalization should be expanded to include positions of leadership, vocational, consultative and other high-level professions, to employ experienced people and give them salaries that go hand in hand with their expertise. This expansion came after the successful implementation of Saudization programs in simple professions, such as receptionists, security guards and locations’ supervisors.
Transforming companies to employ women is one of the solutions that should be studied by these firms, Dr. Hussein said, especially since it’s difficult to provide male staff who is experienced and willing to receive lower salaries.
Unemployment among women, even if they have university degrees, is on the rise, but the recent trend in telecommuting jobs can provide a chance to employ many women.
After the success of the ministry’s programs in raising wages, the private sector finds it difficult to provide jobs with salaries over SR4,000. To solve this problem, the official stated, companies need to restructure their administrations to expand Saudi employment, both for males and females.
Reflecting the current problems in the labor sector, the director of a company, who preferred to remain anonymous, said he was unable to provide job opportunities for more than SR4,000, especially in reception, security and data entry jobs. He pointed out that even when someone agreed to take on the job, they typically stay for a few months until they find better paid employment.
The Information Center at the Ministry of Labor stated that providing a suitable work environment is the best guarantee for Saudis to stay in the job.
The center confirmed that the ministry is trying to develop women’s work environment, with procedure that guarantee women’s rights to work in a safe and flexible environment that conforms to the Shariah rules.