In a first, Saudi women step into Haj emergency role
MECCA: Seven women sit in front of computer screens fielding distress calls from across Mecca ahead of the annual Haj pilgrimage this week, in a first for Saudi Arabia as it tries to expand participation in the workforce.
The seven form the first women’s section of an emergency call centre in the kingdom, which has begun offering more education and employment opportunities to the half of the population that traditionally stayed at home.
The women verify a caller’s location and request, which could be related to fire, crime, illness or a traffic accident, before passing the information on to first responders.
In the conservative kingdom, that’s a big shift.
Saudi Arabia adheres to strict interpretations of Islamic law, requiring women to have male guardians and obey a modest dress code. They are barred from driving.
However, the Saudi government has begun introducing gradual reforms to open new job opportunities for women as part of a vision to wean the country off oil.
“Saudi women are present in multiple fields, so they can also be present in the security sector,” Baara al-Shuwaibi, who studied English at a Mecca university said.
The women all speak English and received training before starting their jobs in recent weeks. Dozens of men sit in a separate room doing the same work.
Hassa al-Badi, who manages the women’s section, said women callers sometimes asked to speak to another woman due to the sensitivity of their request.