About 28,000 women have applied for 30 train-driver jobs in Saudi Arabia, the first time such a post has been advertised in a gender-neutral format in the conservative kingdom. This follows recent reformatory moves that began with scrapping the ban on women driving and allowing them to travel freely without the shadow of male guardianship in 2018.
About 28,000 women have applied for 30 train-driver jobs in Saudi Arabia, the first time such a post has been advertised in a gender-neutral format in the conservative kingdom. This follows recent reformatory moves that began with scrapping the ban on women driving and allowing them to travel freely without the shadow of male guardianship in 2018. What will women train drivers do? Successful candidates will drive high-speed bullet trains between the holy cities of Mecca and Medina after a year of training. Renfe, the Spanish train company operating the service, said it was eager to create opportunities for women in its local business. It currently employs 80 male drivers and is training 50 more. What does this move mean for Saudi women?
Saudi Arabia has had one of the world’s lowest female workforce participation rates. Until recently, women in Saudi could work only in altruistic roles, like teachers and medical workers. Even then, they had to observe strict gender segregation rules. But over the last five years, female participation in the workforce has nearly doubled to 33 per cent following a drive by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to open up the kingdom and diversify the economy. So, this has opened up more opportunities for women, who are now taking up jobs once restricted to men and migrant workers
SOURCE: INDIAN EXPRESS
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