Empowering women vital for a healthy economy — activists

AMMAN — Celebrating its 40th anniversary on Sunday, the Jordan Forum for Business and Professional Women said that although the participation of women in the economy is witnessing a decline, empowering them in business and professional associations remains key to success.

The unemployment rate among youths in Jordan amounts to almost 24 per cent, the forum's president, Taghreed Nafeesi, said at the ceremony, adding that reluctance among businesses to hire female employees and other challenges discourage young graduates from participating in the economy.

“We have a major problem… People are not investing in new businesses; the private sector is not investing in the youths. If both sectors do not invest in people, the overall situation will become even worse, especially that many businesses prefer hiring male employees,” she said.

The forum, founded in 1976, has been focusing on promoting the economic participation of Jordanian women, Nafeesi added.

“Our main aim is to help women in the private and public sectors reach decision-making positions, in addition to achieving progress in their status at workplace, including maternity leaves, equal pay, and social security services,” she told The Jordan Times.

The forum aims at guiding women in businesses by providing them with consultation services.

“We have recently been focusing on university students… Since they graduate and can hardly find jobs that match their majors. We link them to jobs they are interested in and can contribute to,” Nafeesi added.

A participant in the forum said that despite the conferences and meetings held, women in the workplace still face challenges that include lack of crèches, insufficient pay and unsuitable working environments.

“Working women face obstacles that hinder their contributions to businesses in Jordan, this either leads them to stay at home — unemployed — or to work… [abroad],” the 30-year-old told The Jordan Times.

Reem Barghouthi, former president of the forum, said women’s involvement in the economy is vital to Jordan since they account for half of the labour force.

“If half of this [working-class] sector was held back, we would be hindering the growth of the economy as a whole. Women can work from home, they can start with small businesses and develop them later,” she added.

During the ceremony, 13 businesswomen were honoured for their contribution to the economy over the past 40 years.