Thousands of women clamour for 30 train driver jobs in Saudi Arabia
Spanish rail company Renfe says it has received 28,000 applications in its recruitment drive to hire 30 female train drivers in Saudi Arabia, the BBC reports.
The successful candidates will drive high-speed trains between the holy cities of Mecca and Medina following a year of training.
It is the first time such roles have been advertised for women in the conservative Muslim kingdom, the BBC said.
For decades, Saudi Arabia had one of the world’s lowest female workforce participation rates.
As a result of changes in recent years, the participation of women in the workforce has almost doubled over the past five years to 33%, and more women than men entered the workforce in the first half of last year.
However, men still hold the majority of jobs, particularly in the public sector, according to a study published last year by US-based think tank the Brookings Institute.
Despite the major social reforms, Saudi women must still obtain a male guardian’s approval to get married, leave prison or obtain certain healthcare, the BBC said.
Human rights activists say women also continue to face discrimination in relation to marriage, family, divorce and decisions relating to children.
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