An international report by World Union for Labor Unions unemployment is six times higher among women than their fellow men. The same applies to Yemen where two thirds are unemployed.

The report also noted that working women receive less salary and the percentage is that of 16 percent though they do the same job done by their fellow men.

In cities, most women work in the service industry and also some work in government offices and ministries; however, they, with few exceptions, assume marginal and supporting posts while the leading posts are always assumed by their fellow men.

The official statistics indicate that unemployment among women was 29.5 percent in 1999 and rose in 2004 to reach 46 percent.   

Women in rural areas

In Yemen's rural areas, it is estimated that over 80 percent of women work in agriculture, mostly doing unpaid and manual labor on their families' farms.

The task of most ladies is to look after children and do other house works including washing, cooking, tidying and herding as well as collecting wood and fetching water from streams and nearby wells.

"I get up early morning to bring water from a nearby water well. Then I go to the farm and I spend the whole day there herding cows and sheep, as well as collecting grass meant as animal food for the night and the next morning," said Ameena Ahmed, a 45 old lady from Ibb's Al-Sahul.

Like Ahmed, hundreds of thousands of Yemeni women work in different jobs for which they receive no money and they are mostly done to help their fathers, husbands, etc.   

A recent study by Yemen Polling Center (YPC) indicated there are still numerous hurdles that stand before women participating in the country's economic development. Further, the majority of women are still governed by old customs and traditions to practice certain roles at the risk of their participation in economic and general life.

According to official reports, about 60 percent of Yemeni women are illiterate. Most Yemeni women, especially in the rural areas, prefer to perform marginal activities mainly because of illiteracy which is a key factor in women's weak contribution to the national development. It is also a reason for gender inequality in the country.

"An illiterate woman will have no skills at all and she can just do the regular household labor. They are very few women who work as teachers or midwives here," Ahmed added.

In this respect, teacher Khaled Qasim from Ibb city hints that some concepts are in need for change and people should have a different look at the working women, stressing that most people prefer not to have their women work.

Qasim added that the societal beliefs do stand before women getting their rights in full, and hinted that Yemeni culture sees women's role to be confined to houses wherein they look after both children and the husband. 

Women and labor market

Though Yemen has endorsed many conventions relating to the promotion of women's rights, they are still a minor mover in Yemen's economic and political development, mainly because of the complex tribal structure and traditional customs and beliefs.

The country has come at the bottom of the list as to the Gender Gap Index, as women are discriminated, and they do not get the required health and motherhood services.

In return, women have exerted enormous efforts to get recognized and to have equal rights with their fellow men; however, most working women suffer from discrimination as for salary, promotion, training, etc. 

Several unions and institutions have been established to promote women's right and to help enlighten women about their rights as included in effective laws and constitutions. 

Law amended

Parliament has recently endorsed amendments to law numbered 25 of 1991 as to the insurances and working women's position. The law fixed pension age for woman at 55 and also granted a pregnant working woman a paid birth leave of not less than 70 days.

The law as well bans sending a woman away from her job while in a birth leave and demanded the employer to provide a safe place for women's work as well as protecting her, in case she is pregnant, against all foreseeable risks.