Abdullah Omar Khayat

Okaz

It is regrettable that a majority of our youth, even though employed, are not satisfied with their lives. Also, a majority of those with university degrees have aspirations for a decent job, a beautiful and a spacious villa and a sports car.



This really is a regrettable matter. What is important is the accessibility to work that secures a sufficient income for a decent living.



Ahmad Abdulwahab, deputy president of the Grand Mosque and former chief of royal protocol, recently recalled his visit to Egypt two years ago. While sipping morning coffee in his hotel, he noticed a girl entering his room. She was carrying cleaning implements. She asked him if he would allow her to clean the sitting room and arrange the bedroom. He gave her permission. But he asked her if she was literate. She replied that she held a bachelors degree in geography and she accepted the work of a cleaner to sustain her family. She added that she was not the only one for there were over 10 female colleagues with university degrees doing similar jobs.



In two trips to Egypt before Ramadan, I intentionally asked the room cleaners about their qualifications. I found that they were all were degree holders. As for those working as receptionists, on the computer and in the dining room, I asked them and to my great astonishment I found out that they were all masters’ degree holders. Here I leave these incidents for our young men and women to ponder on.



I ask the authorities concerned: Why don’t they allow — even elderly women – to work in cleaning and arranging the hotel rooms where families stay? It is difficult for many guests to allow younger male cleaners to enter the rooms while their womenfolk are there in order to clean them. The floors where families are booked in should be specified so that women can carry out the services there including cleaning and catering for the other needs of the guests.



The Ministry of Commerce should allow women to work in hotels.



There are multinational hotels that have recruited female housekeepers from abroad for taking care of the rooms.