Laws not enough to boost females' role in economy
AMMAN - Experts on Sunday said laws and policies alone cannot boost Arab women's participation in the economy as long as society perceives it negatively.
At a session titled the "Business Case for Gender Diversity" at the World Economic Forum (WEF) at the Dead Sea, panellists also remarked some women would only work in certain sectors, such as education and health, which limits their employment opportunities.
Minister of Social Development Reem Abu Hassan said the legal framework in Jordan, the international agreements it has signed and the Constitution guarantee equal gender opportunities, but women's participation in the economy and labour force still stands at 14 per cent, a figure she said is among the lowest worldwide.
Among the challenges hindering women from taking on a larger role in the economy, she highlighted the negative cultural perception in Arab countries towards working women.
Abu Hassan, who is the only woman minister in the current 19-member Cabinet, noted that women's participation in the public sector in Jordan is higher than in the private sector.
The Kingdom has made important steps to encourage a larger role for women in the policy-making process, she added, stressing that there are 19 female MPs in the current Lower House and seven woman senators, while women represent 10 per cent of staff in the judicial authority.
"We want to see more women in the decision-making circle, particularly in intermediate-level positions," she added.
Saudi Princess Ameerah Al Taweel, wife of Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal, said women in Saudi Arabia have seen improvements in terms of work opportunities in the last two years, adding that despite the reforms that seek to strengthen their presence in the workforce, unemployment among females remains high.
The unemployment rate in Saudi Arabia is currently around 12 per cent, with women constituting 85 per cent of those unemployed.
"This is a big challenge for us," Princess Ameerah, a women's rights advocate in her country, said, blaming the conservative nature of men for hampering efforts to boost women's engagement in the economy and politics.
Most men in Saudi Arabia are against having their wives or daughters work, she noted, despite recent programmes and laws to overcome such challenges.
"The main perception in our country is that men are responsible for bringing the family income, while women have to look after the house and the kids," she added, pointing out that women are sometimes part of the problem as they prefer to work in certain fields, particularly in education.
Saudi businessman and women's rights activist Khalid Al Khudair said changing cultural mentalities is more important than changing laws governing women employment.
But he noted that there have been some improvements in the Gulf kingdom in this field, as authorities have taken certain measures to encourage more females to join the labour market, particularly the retail sector.
Imad Benmoussa, director general of Coca Cola in the Middle East, said rising living costs in the Arab world have already pushed households to find additional income through accepting the idea of women employment.
For solutions to enhance women's economic contribution, Abu Hassan suggested launching awareness programmes to change cultural perceptions, providing social insurance services related to maternity leaves for women in the private sector, providing crèches in public institutions and combating harassment at the workplace.
© Jordan Times 2013
