KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti government's recently approved n amendment to the recently passed private sector labor law which will allow women in a number of professions to work nightshifts has been widely welcomed. The new amendment will cover women working in a number of professions and environments, with beneficiaries including female bank, pharmacy and restaurant staff, as well as media workers. Prior to the introduction of the new amendment, female employees were only allowed to work until 10pm, with the chan
ge to the law seen as a valuable step forward by many female Kuwaiti professionals, who explained that they wish to demonstrate their dedication to their professions and to prove their ability and responsibility in regard without being restricted by legislation limiting their working hours.

Hematologist Dr. Rana Abdulrazzaq said that if women demand equality and justice in treatment and rights within society, they must prove that they are fulfilling their obligations towards society in return.

She welcomed the new amendment, saying that it gives women an opportunity to prove their ability to work and to demonstrate their devotion to their professions, explaining that working nightshifts is very much a part of her job, and one which she realized and accepted when she first chose to become a doctor.

Half the workforce in medicine are women," said Dr. Abdulrazzaq pointed out, adding that this is before one even takes into account the 90 percent of nursing staff who are female. She said that the previous legislation had been unfair in differentiating between male and female staff performing the same roles, concluding by saying that Kuwaiti society would definitely accept the changed legislation as other societies had.

Dr. Rabah Al-Najada a lecturer at the Public Authority of Applied Education and Training (PAAET) and a columnist for Al-Dar, also applauded the legislative amendment, adding that it has additional importance in providing more open working hours. The new system will help women working in professions where nightshifts are standard, she said, pointing out that this is a worldwide phenomenon. Legislation must be issued on the basis of professionalism and objectivity rather than by reason of opinion, Dr. Al-Najada insisted, adding that the new amendment complies with this requirement. The prominent academic said that the advancement of Kuwaiti society and culture, which are essential for the nation's development, would be positively assisted by this step. She also pointed out that in professions such as medicine and pharmacy "you can't ask patients to wait until the morning to be treated.

Another enthusiastic supporter of the new amendment is Lolwa Al-Mulla, the Secretary General of the Women's Cultural Society, who told the Kuwait Times that this step returns rights to the people and reintroduces an appreciation of the values of equality, justice and personal freedom, which were stressed in Article 29 of Kuwait's constitution, in society.

Al-Mulla said that the previous legislation was among a number of laws which restricted women's rights and freedoms and denied them the opportunity to contribute to their profession and have an equal voice in society generally. "I know some female architects who had to stay late at work, and I never heard of any danger or moral problems involved," she added, rejecting the concerns expressed by opponents of the new amendment.

Al-Mulla objected to the opponents' aim of preventing women from attaining their rights in society and from working and developing themselves. The new amendment gives female staff the freedom of choice as to what hours they wish to work, she said, with the decision being up to them.

Since Kuwait elected its first female MPs last year, a number of major changes have taken place reflecting the government's support of women's increased role in society as the country follows in the footsteps of developed nations where women's equality and equal rights are enshrined in law and long accepted. - Kuwait Times