Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH – The number of Saudi women working at the Kingdom’s industrial cities reached 7,500 by the end of 2017 after the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones created a suitable atmosphere for women to work.

The latest report issued by the authority showed that these Saudi women worked at 154 industries in various parts of the country with 3,022 of them working in the central regions of Riyadh (2,986), Qassim (33) and Hail (3). They work in 53 industries.

A total of 1,121 Saudi women work in 43 industries in the Eastern Province while 3,358 women work in the western sector with industries in Jeddah employing 3,234 Saudi women, Madinah 102, and Abha 22. They work in 58 industries located in the three cities.

Food industries attracted the largest number of women (4,126), representing 55 percent of the total, followed by pharmaceutical industries (692 or 9 percent) and chemical industries (531 or 7 percent), the report said.

As many as 471 women work in the electricity sector, 453 in the minerals sector, 463 in textiles, 362 in plastic industries, 233 in glass industry, and 170 or 2 percent in paper industry.

The authority emphasized its plan to establish women-only industries to create more job opportunities for Saudi women. It is also thinking of supporting nurseries to take care the workers’ children. The move comes in line with the objectives of Vision 2030.

The authority has established special working zones for women following international standards as part of its efforts to accommodate more women workers in the sector. Women are provided with infrastructure facilities and services they require in these work places.

The number of Saudi female workers in industries grew from 5,480 in 2014 to 7,500 in 2017. The sector has also attracted a good number of businesswomen and investors.