SAUDI ARABIA
A suggestion by the Saudi Arabian Shura Council that more women should be appointed to senior Public Service positions appears to have had immediate effect, with the naming of the first female Ambassador to the United States.
Princess Reema bint Bandar (pictured) replaces Prince Khalid bin Salman who was recalled to fill the position of Vice Minister for Defence.
The council, which is an advisory body to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, urged the Ministry of Civil Service to appoint women to top positions in line with the Ministry’s 2020 Vision.
Princess Reema faces hostile US lawmakers who have threatened to take tough action against Saudi Arabia over the brutal killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year amid claims that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de-facto ruler who also serves as Minister of Defence, was personally responsible.
The Saudi Government has denied he had anything to do with the murder of Mr Khashoggi, a royal insider-turned-critic who was a columnist with the Washington Post.
Meanwhile, the Shura Council has also asked the Ministry of Civil Service to work on the execution of a royal order to standardise salary structures in all Ministries and Government Departments.
It also discussed amendments to some articles of the labour laws to boost the efficiency of locals in the private sector and ensure adequate compensation in case of termination of a contract without any reason.
Some Shura members supported raising compensations for employees at the time of dismissal from work. They also called for increasing the notice period to 90 days.
Riyadh, 24 February, 2019
