Saudi- Poor female wages cause for divorce says preacher

(MENAFN- Arab News) With an increasing number of couples filing for divorce in Saudi courts religious scholars blame shortage of finances which they say have become a threat to marital harmony.

The issue was raised during a seminar held Thursday in Diwaniyet Abdulrahman Al-Ataishan head of Asharqiya Chamber in the presence of Youssef Al-Afaleq president of the Appeals Court and board members of the chamber.

Sheikh Khalaf Al-Mutlaq mufti of the Eastern Province said that women working in the private sector were not being paid enough which was causing conflict between married couples leading to divorce.

The sheikh explained that many men feel that their wives' salaries are not commensurate with the long hours they spend outside the home.

'They complain that the working hours extending to eight hours per day are too long compared to the salaries they receive.

He pointed out that a salary of SR4000 was only enough to cover the employee's personal needs and transportation costs.

Al-Mutlaq also said that some husbands do not like the idea of their wives working in a mixed environment with men and women together which is often the case in the private sector.

He warned businessmen against boasting about their women employees and broadcasting their accomplishments in official events in public or in private. Touching on the sensitivity of the Saudi culture in this respect the mufti added that no businessman would accept this behavior for the women in their families.

Al-Mutlaq called upon employers to support women by providing them with a good business environment separate from the men to help save their marriages from falling apart.

He confirmed that women were an important segment of society and urged all male employers to protect women and ensure that they could work in comfort and safety.