Gulf countries seek to increase women's participation in labor force

A number of Arab Gulf countries, notably, Saudi Arabia, are now working to increase the contribution of women in the local labor force, according to the director of the International Studies Program at Dirasat Center – Al Manama, Omar Obeidli, who added that advanced economies are distinguished by a high representation of women. Obeidli, quoted in an article published by Al Hayat newspaper on Friday, considered that an active economy utilizes all resources at hand, with women in the forefront, as men, Obeidli mentioned, still retain the lion’s share in the labor market. When designing strategies that promote the role of women in economy, Obeidli said, “one should keep in mind a noteworthy phenomenon that has developed in the United States during the past 20 years which is the decline in the participation of women in the labor force, and therefore should take preemptive measures to avoid being tripped into the same situation.” Obeidli cited the Japanese economic researcher, Su Kubota, in his paper ‘The cost of childcare drives women out of the U.S. workforce’, who attributed the gradual withdrawal in women participation in the labor force to the prohibitive costs of daycare services and private nannies. Back to the Arab Gulf region, Obeidli explained that one of the main hurdles to parents’ access to the labor market are considerations related to childcare. He noted that while a considerable number of families benefit from migrant women domestic workers in this regard, yet, this solution does not suit all people. Foreign ddomestic workers, he argued, are not qualified professionally for the job of caring for children while the costs of specialized daycare centers remain high. He advised Arab governments to endorse new policies based on discussions between all stakeholders, which could support affordable childcare services to women.  What is needed, Obeidli concluded, is a comprehensive interventions by governments to facilitate access and costs of childcare.  (Al Hayat, December 30, 2016)