An ILO study in Kuwait highlighted the extent to which the labour force is divided into national workers who mainly work in the government sector, and expatriate workers who dominate the private sector. Non-traditional skills for Arab women in Kuwait also drew attention to the low level of Kuwaiti women working in the private sector. In October 2003, their number amounted to 38.2 per cent of the total workforce. With the expatriate labour force in the country amounting to 81 per cent of the total workforce, women's participation rate in the total workforce drops to 7.3 per cent. However, for several decades now Kuwaiti women have been well represented in high management and decision-making posts as under-secretaries of ministries and businesswomen. A similar study was undertaken in Jordan, and another one is underway in Bahrain. Once the country studies are completed, a comprehensive regional study will be published.
For further information, please contact the ILO Regional Office for Arab States, phone: +9611/75-24-00, fax: +9611/75-24-05, e-mail: beirut@ilo.org, Web site: http://www.ilo.org/beirut