Labor Ministry appoints first female adviser to minister

In keeping with the move to employ women in senior positions, the Ministry of Labor and Social Development has appointed a new female adviser to the minister.

Speaking to Saudi Gazette, the new adviser Latifa Abuniyan, who is in charge of social care issues, said that she will take care of the concerns of the public.

Abuniyan will handle files concerning orphanages, people with special needs, elderly individuals and juveniles’ shelters.

She noted that the Kingdom is moving ahead with regard to the participation of women, “although the world does not recognize this yet.”

Abuniyan was a deputy minister and has worked in areas of social care for 33 years.

She has worked in the Ministry of Social Affairs and was a supervisor of the children section and the general manager of the social supervision office for females.

Suhaila Zain Al-Abidin, a social activist, described this as a positive move.

She hoped that women in senior positions would raise issues concerning women.

She said that they should highlight issues regarding the implementation of protection programs for women and children as well as the issue of male guardianship which should be reconsidered for adult women who are capable of taking their own decisions.