AL AIN // With shortages both of suitable jobs and opportunities to acquire skills, women in Al Ain can have a hard time making their way into the workplace. But a scheme launched yesterday aims to smooth that path. The Ain al Mustaqbal ("looking to the future") project promises to work with families to help address any concerns they have about women working, as well as provide pre-employment training.
It will also try to persuade public and private employers to expand their operations to Al Ain. There were some promising signs yesterday as the project, which is being run by the Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council in partnership with the Abu Dhabi University Knowledge Group and the Emirates Foundation's Tawteen programme, was launched with a forum at the Rotana hotel. By the end of the event, not only had a dozen women secured job offers, but several employers had pledged to create scores more suitable positions for women from the area.
Etihad Airways said it would provide 70 positions for women from Al Ain, with First Gulf Bank providing another 11. There were also promises by Al Futaim Group to provide eight jobs, and by Rotana to create 10 positions. New Medical Centre and Horizon Flight Academy both pledged one job each. @Email:ealghalib@thenational.ae
