Makkah: There are no seasonal jobs for women under the Ministry of Haj and Umrah, an official has said.

Ministry of Haj official spokesman Hatim Qadhi was quoted by Makkah newspaper as saying that the ministry began receiving applications for seasonal jobs for the upcoming Haj season last week.

“The ministry does not have any seasonal jobs available for women. All of the positions available are for men only. The ministry did not specify any gender in its announcement for seasonal jobs but there is the option to determine the applicant’s gender in the application,” said Qadhi.

He added the ministry does exclude applications submitted by women due to the lack of seasonal jobs for women.

“The gender option was added because some names are not indicative of the applicant’s gender. The ministry only has seasonal jobs available for men.
Women who apply for seasonal jobs are being rejected because there are no positions for them to occupy,” said Al-Qurashi.

He added many women mutawifs are upset at the lack of seasonal jobs demanding equal treatment to their male counterparts.

Mutawif Najat Baqasi said she applied for a seasonal job and filled in all the requirements.

“The ministry does not want women mutawifs. However, the website only makes available office jobs. We have been promised by the ministry to have office and field jobs in all specialties available. We expect to have seasonal jobs available for us as well,” said Baqasi.

She also said the ministry has met with a number of women mutawifs representing the six Tawafa establishments.

“The ministry listened to the suggestions and ideas of the mutawifs in the meeting and has taken their requests and opinions into consideration,” said Baqasi.

The women’s section director in the ministry, Amal Al-Sabry, said her section is being gradually linked to various agencies and organizations under the ministry.

“Jobs for women in the ministry are made available by cooperating with the ministry’s partners and associations. Women now have more jobs than before and offer valuable services to women pilgrims,” said Al-Sabry.

She added women in the ministry give legal consultation on women issues in regards to Haj, organize workshops and seminars by women for women and receive the female guests of the ministry.