Factors affecting women working in the pharmaceutical sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

IntroductionThanks to its goodly oil resources, Saudi-Arabian Arabia has evolved from a comparatively distressing country to become the foundings dominant oil manufacturer and one of the wealthiest regions in the Middle East. in that location is international pressure on the rulers to brood political and social reforms, including enhancing the troth of women in spite of appearance the national manoeuverforce. question Background fire findings intimately working women in neighboring Jordan fix been generated by the countrys National Centre for Human choice Development, which has carried out research into the experience of women workers in the private sector, namely in the Communications, mesh and pharmaceuticals industries. This research was prompted because of recognition that womens lodge in the Jordanian labour marketplace place is growing and the fact that womens participation is often hindered by social perceptions, sends and roundtimes legislation (Peebl es, Darwazeh, Ghosheh and Sabbah, 2007). Given the size and descale of Jordan ( community approximately 6.5 million) comp ard with Saudi Arabia (population approximately 27.1 million), it seems probable that some of these hindrances give overly curb to Saudi Arabia.The pharmaceuticals industry in Saudi Arabia is the richest in the Gulf region1 and among the largest of inbuiltly those in the Middle East Saudi Arabia represents 65%, or $1.7 billion of the pharmaceutical market in the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)2, which is currently valued at$2.7 billion per year3 (Issa, Al-Ammar and Mostafa, 2009). marri climb on proposalThe research proposal is to examine the factors touch women working in the pharmaceuticals industry, with particular germ to perceived advantages and barriers. It is anticipated that the issues arising allow involve those touching on human rights, equalize opportunities and discrimination religion and education legislation, incl uding family legality heathen norms and likewise resistance to original change within the community of Saudi Arabian fe potents. donnish LiteratureAcademic treatises on women in Muslim cultures let in a synopsis of lit reviews produced by the Library of Congress (Offenhauer, 2005), which admits chapters on womens roles in the productive economy as well as in the national setting.Maryland Universitys Professor in the Department of calling and executive director Programs, Dr. Dorothy Minkus-McKenna, researched entrepreneurship among Saudi Arabian women albeit on an exploratory base of operations and without the benefit of statistical data, and noted the assorted musical modes in which success is heedful and valued. This provides useful background randomness roughly womens perceptions of their role in the oeuvre.In a further look at entrepreneurship, another study (Sadi and Al-Ghazali, 2009) sought to appoint what motivated women entrepreneurs and pinpointed barriers as being a lack of co-ordination and governmental support special competition due to market command a dearth of market studies poor support from the internal community and the everyday restrictions imposed by society.Whilst trammel, the available literature serves to confirm that women in Saudi Arabia fence to march themselves in the workplace on an equal footing with men.Overall decl ar oneself and ObjectivesThe aim of the research is to identify the headstone factors that act as obstacles to women working in the pharmaceuticals sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). To accomplish this, the revolve around of the research bequeath be on the pharmaceuticals comp any(prenominal), Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries4, one of the largest research-driven companies producing veterinary, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals products in KSA.The objectives of the research testament be to wee-weeWhether societal and ethnic norms in KSA act against women making keep in the workplace. Whether the impact of legislation relating to the workplace has an adverse affect on women. Whether child c ar responsibilities interfere with womens progress in their working lives. Whether financial pressures, and related issues, reach a bearing on working women.In relation to the pharmaceuticals sectorWhether at that place are perceptions that some hypothecates are more appropriate for women than others. Whether gender bias, married status, in the flesh(predicate)ized appearance and religious discrimination absorb a bearing on recruitment techniques and practices. Whether there are perceived or real barriers to women achieving management positions. question methodological analysis and MethodsA number of methods leave behind be used in sanctify to achieve the objectives. Secondary research go out establish the infallible reading on cultural and societal norms, and legislation. Primary research pull up stakes provide the quantitative and qualitative randomness perta ining to women in the workplace.Participants will be invited to manage a questionnaire without disclosing their name. In this way their anonymity will be protected and it should undertake that they are able to be stretch out and honest about their workplace experiences without any fear of reprisal.Online questionnaires will enable participants with glide slope to a computer to respond relatively quickly and easily, and paper questionnaires enkindle alike be issued if this is deemed more capable for certain members of the sample population.Primary ResearchA questionnaire designed to elicit the required information will be vigilant for workers at the Saudi provender and dose Authority (SFDA). The Authority was established on 10th March 2033 and is charged with ensuring that drugs and foodstuffs fabricate for consumption by humans and animals are safe this includes chemical and biological substances and also medical equipment. SFDA has been chosen because it has a kind at some level with all the pharmaceuticals companies in Saudi Arabia, and it also sets the standards and regulations as to how they operate.Questionnaire 1The survey will include a sample of both male and female workers at SFDA, based on the demographic of people of working age in Saudi Arabia. Current estimates orient that the ratio of males to females aged 1564 years is approximately 54, however it is not known exactly how many another(prenominal) female workers are currently employed at SFDA. Ideally, a sample of one hundred eighty employees would include 100 men and 80 women.The questionnaire will assume workers about their educational background prior to employment, to provide information on their current position at SFDA. Data will be equanimous on their responsibilities in the workplace, and also those impertinent work relating to childcare and care of any other dependants. Questions about the impact the job makes on their financial situation will be included. Finally, t he questionnaire will seek to establish the career plans of participants and their experiences of nurture and promotion.Questionnaire 2direct at Human Resources (HR) personnel, this questionnaire will ask about participants interview techniques when recruiting staff, including the extent to which personal questions about an applicants marital status, social status, place of residency and accouchement plans are discussed. Peebles, Darwazeh, Ghosheh and Sabbah (2007) found it was common practice among HR professionals in Jordan to ask personal questions at job interviews, which the staff justify on the basis that this was a way of obtaining information about the character of an applicant, and of determine their suitability for work-related travel or overtime.The questionnaire will ask about the types of jobs, and the opportunities for training and promotion, that are available to men and women, with the intention of determine whether these are on an equal footing. soft information on the perceived commitment levels of female and male employees will also be sought.Other MethodsData arrangement could also be achieved via a longitudinal study, that is where the researcher spends a considerable gunpoint of time embedded in the arrangement in order to observe interrelationships and participation operations on a day-after-day basis.Structured or semi-structured interviews could be conducted with workers and HR personnel as an alternative to a survey.One or more focus groups could be convened to discuss the findings of the survey, in order to provide enhanced qualitative information.These methods have been considered and rejected as they are any too time-consuming and impracticable.Secondary ResearchReports and articles by other researchers concerned with female workers in the Middle East and their work experiences in pharmaceuticals companies will be analyse to obtain an overview of the sector and the key issues relating to women workers. in truth basic sta tistical information about SFDA is also available on LinkedIn5 where a few members of staff are also listed.Data AnalysisInformation from the questionnaires will be analysed to elicit clear information on the position of women working in pharmaceuticals in KSA their educational background, experience of recruitment, training and promotion and any barriers they have encountered in terms of their advancement in the workplace. soft information will provide the background for the statistics.Planning and Critical Analysis consent will be needed from the SFDA Executive Management to conduct the survey among a sample of staff members, and the researchers contact person within the companionship could facilitate this.If permission is not granted, it whitethorn still be possible for some members of staff to participate in a private capacity (for example, via LinkedIn) although participants may be hesitant and it may be surd to attract 180 people by this method.SFDA may wish to alter the word or the questions in the survey to suit company needs, however any proposed changes will have to be carefully scrutinised by the researcher before any changes are agreed.Alternatively, another pharmaceuticals company could be used, such as Merck Serono, which has a base in Saudi Arabia but company home office in Geneva, Switzerland and a UK office.LimitationsThe surveys are limited to a selection of the working population in one specific memorial tablet and although a degree of extrapolation is possible the findings will not represent a encompassing and in-depth view of the countrys entire pharmaceuticals sector.TimescaleObtaining permissions and approvals and distributing questionnaires will take up to fiver hebdomads, withdata analysis in week six and writing up of the findings in weeks seven ten.ReferencesBBC (2012). Saudi Arabia profile. Online. 16th January. available at http//www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14702705Issa, N.A., Al-Ammar, A.I. and Mostafa, S. (20 09) Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Industries in Saudi Arabia. American Health Lawyers Association.Minkus-McKenna, D. (2009). Women Entrepreneurs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Working paper. http//bit.ly/yCoxTYOffenhauer, P. (2005). Women in Muslim societies a selected review of social scientific literature. Report. Library of Congress. Online. available at http//www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/Women_Islamic_Societies.pdfPeebles, D., Darwazeh, N., Ghosheh H. and Sabbah, A. (2007) Factors Affecting Womens Participation in the Private heavens in Jordan. Research Report. National effect for Human Resources Development.Sadi, M. A. and Al-Ghazali, B. M. (2010). Doing business with impudence A focus on women entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia. Research paper. African Journal of Business Management Vol. 4(1), pp.1-11, January. Online. available at http//www.academicjournals.org/AJBM.Saudi Food and Drug Authority. available at http//www.sfda.gov.sa/En/ home office/Topics/about/