Jordan Times

Project seeks to get more women into the workforce

By Grace Peacock

AMMAN — Civil society organisations joined forces with the business community, government representatives and the European Union yesterday to tackle the high rates of unemployment among women in both Jordan and Gaza.

“We want to find a way to help men and women work together. We want to target women of all parts of society and help them use the skills they have to match them with a job,” said Elena Abu Adas, managing director of Tatawor Association, a nonprofit organisation that hosted the workshop.

Over 70 people took part in Tatawor’s project ‘Free to Work’ — a 24-month initiative financed by the European Commission to determine employment opportunities in Jordan and Gaza and help women assess their skills, undergo further training and ultimately find a job.

“Unemployment here is really high and we want to know why most of the unemployed people are women?” said Mariam Abu Adas, Tatawor’s project manager.

She pointed out that women account for 82 per cent of Jordan’s unemployment rate.

A recent report by the Ministry of Labour put the country’s unemployment rate at 15 per cent, while the poverty rate is estimated at 14.8 per cent.

“There are so many women here who are disempowered because they don’t have jobs. But if they use their skills to find work then they could really be empowered,” she added, explaining that the policy framework in both Jordan and Gaza needs to change to make the workforce more accessible for women.

Abu Adas also hopes to challenge what is commonly referred to as the “culture of shame” that exists in these regions whereby women are prevented from working due to objections from family members.

The project Free to Work is in its first stage and is designed to study the economy for actual and potential markets and identify the resources needed to develop further job opportunities.

Women who take part in the programme will have their skills analysed and will receive personalised training to help them meet their career aims and ambitions.

“We hope to assist a wide range of women from 16 to 60, educated or uneducated from all walks of life,” said Abu Adas, who encourages unemployed women to contact Tatawor.

Hanan Quirdy is a mother of three and says she was the first female industrial machinery driver in Amman. She believes the Free to Work initiative will help other women break through the same barriers she experienced to take on what has traditionally been a man’s job.

“This project helps me and other women be more sure that we can do what we want. It’s become my own personal challenge to do this job and be a driver and it should be every woman’s challenge to find herself the job they like,” she said.

For more information on the Free to Work project, call: 554 6556 or email info@tatawor.org.


Wednesday, July 12, 2006