Monday, June 25, 2007

Saudi Arabia: No more Hanky Panky in the Bank

Saudi Arabia to separate men and women in Bank HQs

Saudi authorities have ordered banks to separate female and male workers at their headquarters in a new setback for women's rights in the conservative kingdom. Banks are one of the main employers of women in Saudi Arabia. Though women are already separated from male employees in branches, they have up to now worked together in bank headquarters. Under the new system, women employees in bank headquarters could now be obliged to work on separate floors and use different lifts, entrances and canteens from men.

Meanwhile a law has been passed in Kuwait that restricts women from working between the hours of 10 pm and 7 am and bars them from 'arduous and dangerous' jobs. Oh, and jobs where they provide services to men only.

Ridiculous.