15 August 2008
While the decision taken by the Bahraini government at the end of May to name a woman as its next ambassador to the US made headlines, efforts by both the state and the private sector to increase the participation of the kingdom's women in the wider economy have received less attention.
The fact that the new ambassador, Houda Nonoo, was also Jewish, partly explains the extent of the coverage overseas, whereas at home, she has long been a member of the appointed Shura Council, the upper chamber of the Bahraini parliament.
Government officials denied the appointment was a public relations manoeuvre, arguing instead that it reflected the state's commitment to end discrimination against women in the political arena. These statements are lent extra credence as Nunu is the third female ambassador to be appointed by Bahrain - the others being posted to France and China.
However, although rarely hitting the headlines, there have been concrete efforts in the past few years to raise the profile of women in the workforce.
According to Bahrain's Supreme Council for Women (SCW), female Bahrainis account for 82% of the country's pool of unemployed workers, a figure the state would understandably like to see reduced.
On August 6, a project was launched to encourage women to set up small businesses in the transport sector. Bahraini women between the ages of 23 to 40, with high school level education or higher, and who have had a driving license for a minimum of five years, will be trained in driving mini-buses and on how to set up their own company.
At the end of the training period, the state will provide them with vehicles worth $22,000 each, refundable through monthly installments spaced over 10 years.
In the longer term, the project is expected to develop women's economic abilities and encourage them to establish small companies, the SWC statement said.
Women are also playing an increasing role in Bahrain's finance services industry, which accounts for more than 25% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Figures released by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) on June 1 showed that Bahraini women accounted for 37.2% of the 8248 nationals employed by the financial sector, and one-quarter of its total workforce of 11,960 as of the end of 2007.
Significantly, the CBB report showed a 22.8% increase in the number of women employed in the finance sector in the 12 months ending December 31, 2007 - a solid improvement on the 20% increase in 2006.
R Lakshmanan, the chief executive officer of Sakana Holistic Housing Solutions, an Islamic mortgage provider where women make up 46% of the workforce, said Bahraini women were "extremely well qualified to take up professional positions within the financial services sector".
Another potential avenue opening up for Bahraini women is the Bahrain-Qatar causeway. Currently, the only road link to Bahrain is the King Fahad Causeway, connecting the kingdom to Saudi Arabia, where women are not allowed to drive, a restriction shared by neither Bahrain nor Qatar.
Construction on the new road link is due to start in 2009, and when completed in 2013, could open up employment opportunities in Qatar for Bahraini women. Last year, the Bahrain Ministry of Labour set up an employment office in Qatar to help Bahraini nationals find jobs in the neighbouring economy. The new causeway would allow women to commute to work in Qatar.
However, the role of the government in promoting the participation of women in Bahrain's economy has drawn some criticism. Some conservative circles fear it could weaken the family structure. On the other hand, groups such as the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights claim not enough is being done to redress what it describes as a male dominated workplace.
Despite criticism, the number of women in the Bahraini workforce is on the rise, as are the opportunities on offer.
While the decision taken by the Bahraini government at the end of May to name a woman as its next ambassador to the US made headlines, efforts by both the state and the private sector to increase the participation of the kingdom's women in the wider economy have received less attention.
The fact that the new ambassador, Houda Nonoo, was also Jewish, partly explains the extent of the coverage overseas, whereas at home, she has long been a member of the appointed Shura Council, the upper chamber of the Bahraini parliament.
Government officials denied the appointment was a public relations manoeuvre, arguing instead that it reflected the state's commitment to end discrimination against women in the political arena. These statements are lent extra credence as Nunu is the third female ambassador to be appointed by Bahrain - the others being posted to France and China.
However, although rarely hitting the headlines, there have been concrete efforts in the past few years to raise the profile of women in the workforce.
According to Bahrain's Supreme Council for Women (SCW), female Bahrainis account for 82% of the country's pool of unemployed workers, a figure the state would understandably like to see reduced.
On August 6, a project was launched to encourage women to set up small businesses in the transport sector. Bahraini women between the ages of 23 to 40, with high school level education or higher, and who have had a driving license for a minimum of five years, will be trained in driving mini-buses and on how to set up their own company.
At the end of the training period, the state will provide them with vehicles worth $22,000 each, refundable through monthly installments spaced over 10 years.
In the longer term, the project is expected to develop women's economic abilities and encourage them to establish small companies, the SWC statement said.
Women are also playing an increasing role in Bahrain's finance services industry, which accounts for more than 25% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Figures released by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) on June 1 showed that Bahraini women accounted for 37.2% of the 8248 nationals employed by the financial sector, and one-quarter of its total workforce of 11,960 as of the end of 2007.
Significantly, the CBB report showed a 22.8% increase in the number of women employed in the finance sector in the 12 months ending December 31, 2007 - a solid improvement on the 20% increase in 2006.
R Lakshmanan, the chief executive officer of Sakana Holistic Housing Solutions, an Islamic mortgage provider where women make up 46% of the workforce, said Bahraini women were "extremely well qualified to take up professional positions within the financial services sector".
Another potential avenue opening up for Bahraini women is the Bahrain-Qatar causeway. Currently, the only road link to Bahrain is the King Fahad Causeway, connecting the kingdom to Saudi Arabia, where women are not allowed to drive, a restriction shared by neither Bahrain nor Qatar.
Construction on the new road link is due to start in 2009, and when completed in 2013, could open up employment opportunities in Qatar for Bahraini women. Last year, the Bahrain Ministry of Labour set up an employment office in Qatar to help Bahraini nationals find jobs in the neighbouring economy. The new causeway would allow women to commute to work in Qatar.
However, the role of the government in promoting the participation of women in Bahrain's economy has drawn some criticism. Some conservative circles fear it could weaken the family structure. On the other hand, groups such as the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights claim not enough is being done to redress what it describes as a male dominated workplace.
Despite criticism, the number of women in the Bahraini workforce is on the rise, as are the opportunities on offer.
© Oxford Business Group 2008
