Working Maghreb women spur economic development, forum says

2010-03-07

"The economy grows with women's access to the job market," said a participant at the Forum of Mediterranean Women held in Tunis.

By Mona Yahia for Magharebia in Tunis – 07/03/10

[Fethi Belaid/AFP/Getty Images] According to official figures, women represent 27% of the active workforce in Tunisia.

Working women have a positive impact on both family life and economic development, participants in a Mediterranean women's forum in Tunis said.

"Research has proven that women in Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria do extremely well. They are capable of managing businesses, and a society becomes disabled if it depends only on its male gender," said Leila Khaiat, Vice-President of the Tunisian Union for Industry, Commerce and Cottage Industries.

Women attending the Forum on Mediterranean Women hailed from Maghreb countries, Europe, the US and Canada. Forum participants represented a variety of professional backgrounds, and included both entrepreneurs and active members in civil society.

The February 24th-25th forum was an opportunity to enhance the leadership role of women in all professional fields and improve their investment know-how, said Tunisian Minister for Women, Family, Children and the Elderly Salwa Ayachi Labben.

Tunisian labour statistics reveal that women represent 27% of active workers and fill 32.5% of management positions, the minister said.

The controversy over females in the workplace is no longer an issue, participants emphasised.

"The impact [of working women] on society is obviously positive," said Mrs. Hanan Hassan, a Moroccan business manager who attended the forum. "The economy grows with women's access to the job market, living standards improve, and even youth's views have changed."

Hassan dismissed the idea that the professional sector belonged only to men.

"Recent years have pressured governments, organisations and businesses to establish companies and to create job opportunities for women. Still, there are some men, and they are a minority, who believe that women's access to the job market reduces the chances of men to find employment."

Maghreb women now have just as many opportunities as European women, Rachida from the Association of Algerian Women Business Leaders said.

One participant even noted that mothers who work also improve family life.

"I think that all these mechanisms help women be more productive, which in turn, affects raising children," said Eva Turk, a programme manager for the Lebanese Business Women's Association. "It also shows women that they must work after completing their education instead of staying at home."

The forum also called for the development of a support network among women entrepreneurs to reinforce female economic activity in the Mediterranean region. Participants pushed banks, professional associations and local businesses associations to establish stronger links. Women were also encouraged to invest in eco-friendly business ventures.

The Mediterranean Union of Enterprises Confederations organised the Tunis conference, with the assistance of the "Invest in Med" programme, Tunisia's National Chamber of Female Business Leaders and the German Co-operation Agency.