Jeddah, Aug 3 (Arab News): A recommendation has been made to increase the number of Saudi women employees in the security guard sector by 25 percent, as they are competent and available for the job.

Presently, 15 percent of women are employed in the sector, and there is scope to increase their number, Abdullah Al-Shahri, deputy chairman of the National Committee for Security Guards, has said.
He said a report has been filed with higher authorities by a national committee, which conducted a study in cooperation with the Higher Commission for Industrial Security in the Ministry of Interior.
The study has found job opportunities for women in the control and monitoring rooms of commercial and civil facilities.

The report said women have proved competency and accuracy in the field and that the role of women in control rooms should be increased.

Al-Shahri said there are fewer women than men in the security sector because demand for men in private sector establishments is higher despite the fact that female security guards are available.
He said the security guards sector has witnessed a quantum leap after it was assigned to the Higher Commission for Industrial Security under the presidency of its undersecretary, Brig. Gen. Dr. Khalid Al-Aqil.

Al-Shahri confirmed that the commission is responsible for conducting studies and implementing suggestions of the private sector, in cooperation with other government bodies such as the Human Resource Development Fund and the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.

Communication with all relevant government bodies is easier now through the commission, he said.
Al-Shahri said licenses offered by the Ministry of Interior to civil security companies has reached 400, while the number of active establishments reached 300. These companies have more than 200,000 security personnel, of which 80 percent are Saudis.