Oman Working women Cultural Challenges facing Oman vision

Oman Working women: Cultural Challenges facing Oman vision 2020 By Rafiah Al-Talei

Oman Vision 2020 �Human Resources Development: �Enhance women skills to face work challenges on the local , Arab and international levels. �Increase women participation by 2020 to 50% in the age category (15 -64) �Establish Institutions to train and support working women

Omani Women in Numbers Women in private sector 1993 26. 2% and 34. 6% in 2003 �In Public sector 72. 8% and 63. 7% same period. �In agriculture 18. 4% �In 2000 and 2008 women percentage is 18% and 18. 6% in private sector. �In public sector 29. 2% and 41. 2% in the same period.

Omani Women in Numbers �Women in decision making positions 8% in public sector and 11. 7% in private sector. � 24. 7% of women employees have collage or university degree. � 84. 1% have high school diploma and 6. 2% BA in private sector. � 60% have BA degree and 29. 8% high diploma (89. 8%). More skills in public sector.

Omani Women in Numbers � 93% of women public employees in Education 70% and Health 23%. � 78. 2% under 35 in public sector and 21. 8 above (2008) � 76. 8 under 35 in private sector and 33. 2% above. (2008) �Women are 50% of the population which its unemployment rate is 20% around 300, 000 people.

Why Women Work? �Building women personality �Developing skills �Independent Income �Education �Social status �Supporting Family �Getting out of the women classic role. �Participating in the Development and economic programs

Public Sector the First Choice �Better Salaries �Better Annual and Holiday Leaves �Bette retirement Benefits �Better working environment �Less working Hours �Less pressure

Cultural and Social Challenges �Young women study : socially approved majors. Such as education and Health �No supporting services: (nurseries) �No protecting laws (labor Law needs change) �Preference of male employees for some jobs �Women mobility and work opportunities (closer to home) �Training challenges. (travel, training organization)

Gender Relations �From follower to Partner �From dependent to independent �From supervised to supervisor �From less to Equal �BUT �Women still # 2 in the Family �Males dominate the public and the social spheres

Recommendations �Establish and support study and training programs that suit the needs of economic. � provide special training for women with special needs in order to get jobs � consider the role of women as an equal economic partner. � support professional directing programs �Train women at the workplace

Recommendation �Improve the Labor Law (Private sector) �Equal Job and education opportunities �Longer Maternity leave �Provide supporting services for women �Education and awareness programs that helps changing classic women role.