B20 Women in Business Chair to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Seek to Empower Women, Increase Access to Employment Opportunities

Rania Nashar, Chair of the B20 Women in Business Action Council, underlined the need to promote equality between men and women in the work field, noting that the Council was seeking to adopt policy measures that would encourage women’s participation in the business world.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Nashar said the Council had submitted five recommendations to the G20 pertaining to women’s employment policies.

In this regard, she noted that the Saudi Business Group recorded the largest percentage of female participation in work teams compared to former presidencies. Saudi Arabia is the current chair of the G20.

“The participation rate of women reached 33.4%, most of them are Saudi, and the percentage of heads of work teams is 43% for the first time in the history of the business group,” she stated.

Nashar, who is also the CEO of Samba Financial Group, touched on a number of challenges and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on working women, in addition to solutions that enable them to advance their career.

She noted that the B20 Women in Business Action Council was aimed at addressing a number of issues, including gender inequality and the means to increase women’s participation in the business field, particularly in leadership positions across the countries.

“The Council’s priorities include advancing reforms in the equal treatment of women in a way that contributes to highlighting their full potential in the work field, creating a favorable environment for women entrepreneurship, in addition to adopting an approach that focuses on promoting effective cooperation between stakeholders,” she told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The work of the Women in Business Action Council has a great importance in terms of contributing to policy recommendations for the G20, Nashar emphasized.

Asked about her evaluation of the participation of Saudi women in the B20 meetings, she said: “The Saudi Business Group made sure that women in all G20 countries had a platform to express their views. In line with our commitment to provide a role model for others, the Saudi Business Group recorded the largest percentage of female participation in work teams compared to any previous presidency.”

She continued: “For the first time in the history of the business group, a council for women in business was established and worked to develop a road map to enhance the role of women in a number of fields. The Council has also sought to make women’s participation vital, to empower them in the career path and increasing their access to fair employment opportunities.”

Asked about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on working women, Nashar said: “Hundreds of millions of people around the world faced severe restrictions due to the direct repercussions of the emerging coronavirus. Women were particularly affected by it, knowing that they are more vulnerable to the repercussions of this pandemic in the long term.”

Relying on recent data and statistics, Nashar said that women have been more at risk of contracting the virus, as they constitute 70 percent of workers in the health and social sectors at the global level. In addition, more women work in low-paid jobs that lack security and social protection.

“In addition, many of the staff dismissals that take place around the world specifically target the service sector, including the retail, hospitality and tourism sector, which employs a large proportion of women,” she underlined.

The chair of the B20 Women in Business Action Council said that women have faced many challenges during the pandemic, including the closure of schools and the implementation of distance learning, which increased the burden of home care.

“Female business owners are also facing difficulties in financing their businesses; and given the current economic slowdown, they will face the risk of closure or bankruptcy,” she warned.

According to Nashar, one of the important steps in alleviating this problem is the establishment of a crisis response fund for women owners of micro, small and medium enterprises, and the adoption of clear legislation that eliminate all forms of gender-based discrimination and bias in decisions related to dismissal from jobs during the current pandemic and future crises.

Asked about the solutions that can help women advance their career, Nashar said that women’s access to equal employment opportunities would contribute to positive business and economic outcomes.

“It also increases economic output by reaching a wider pool of talent and fostering innovation and corporate productivity,” she noted.

She added that the Council was seeking to speed up government procedures to ensure solidarity in the field of business between men and women.

On the means to advance levels of gender diversity in business environments, bridge the existing gender wage gap, and eliminate discrimination, Nashar said: “We focus on bridging the existing gender gap, which will continue to widen if no action is taken today, as companies and policymakers must work together to ensure equal opportunities and pave the way for more success stories.”

She added that based on this reality, the Council was preparing policy recommendations that address the urgent and medium-term priorities resulting from the outbreak of the pandemic in the G20 countries.

“Our policy recommendations also aim to support the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Driven by this commitment to implement the gender equality agenda and bridge the wage gap, the Saudi Business Group has ensured that women in all G20 countries have a platform to express their views,” Nashar said.

She also told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Council has issued in July a special report for the G20 that included a six-point plan aimed at combating the current global epidemic and laying the necessary foundations to confront the resurgence of the disease in the future, including a possible second wave.

The report was prepared in collaboration with business leaders and multilateral organizations around the world, she said.

The Saudi Business Group also sought to reach a consensus on how governments can better support the private sector during the crisis, protect the economy and prepare for future crises. More than 750 business leaders from the G20 countries and beyond provided their opinions, including leaders of multinational corporations and SMEs, Nashar explained.

She also revealed: “Besides the immediate response to the pandemic, we cannot disregard the long-term issues that must be addressed. In this context, all the work teams of the Saudi Business Group and the Council are finalizing policy recommendations, which will be submitted to the G20 Presidency at the end of this month. Those include a number of sectors and issues that affect the international business community and require government partnership and close cooperation.”

The chair of the B20 Women in Business Action Council concluded by saying: “The emerging coronavirus crisis imposed a new business model on governments and companies around the world, and pushed them to take unprecedented decisions and measures, such as distance learning and remote work. This has contributed to the development of a new environment for both systems.”

“These measures will help moving towards a future dependent on digital transformation and will facilitate the process of gradually returning to the pre-pandemic lifestyle.”

One of the UN’s top humanitarian officials in Lebanon, Imran Riza, has warned that the situation will worsen if the conflict continues, calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

He stressed that the ongoing war is placing immense strain on both the UN and the Lebanese government, as over a million people have been displaced. He said current needs exceed $400 million, but only 12% of that amount has been raised so far.

Worsening Crisis

Riza, who is the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, UN Resident, and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. He described the past two weeks as “catastrophic” for civilians, with the crisis growing over the last year.

More than 600,000 people have been displaced and over a million affected, with 300,000 crossing the border, according to Riza.

Many of these people have been displaced more than once in search of safety. Riza emphasized that the war has severely impacted civilians, with more than a quarter of Lebanon's population affected.

The UN has been working to address the crisis, but Riza said resources are limited.

He stressed that the UN has been saying all year that it doesn’t have enough funds, even when there were only 110,000 displaced people.

Last week, the UN launched a $426 million appeal for urgent humanitarian aid, with 12% of the funding already secured.

Riza said more support is expected, with donor countries pledging additional help.

He also expressed gratitude for contributions from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which provided medical and relief supplies, and said the UN hopes to see more international assistance soon.

Working with the Government

The UN is working closely with the Lebanese government every day to provide shelter, food, healthcare, and water to those in need.

Cooperation with the government has been excellent, said Riza.

However, he acknowledged that the government’s capacity is weakened after five years of ongoing crises, which have also severely impacted the population.

People are less resilient than they were during the 2006 war, and the government and its institutions are weaker, affirmed Riza.

The UN is helping the government respond effectively, ensuring transparency and accountability, so that aid reaches those who need it, he added.

The UN is also collaborating with local and international NGOs that have gained experience from Lebanon’s recent crises, helping to ensure a more effective response. Shelters are also being monitored to prevent any abuse.

A Different Reality from 2006

The current situation in Lebanon is very different from the 2006 war. Politically, the country now has a caretaker government and no president, with much less international presence.

Back then, other countries were more involved, said Riza.

The 2006 war lasted only 33 days, but this conflict has dragged on for a year, he noted.

During recent visits to southern border areas, Riza said locals were asking when the war would end, as the situation has worsened significantly in the past two weeks.

Riza noted that, in the first week of the crisis, it was extremely difficult to respond, and even now, many displaced people remain without shelter.

The UN is working with the government to provide shelter, food, and healthcare, but it’s not easy, he noted.

Displacement Crisis

With winter approaching, Riza stressed the need to properly house displaced people, saying that people can’t be left without shelter.

There are also concerns over a lack of housing, clean water, and sanitation, as well as the risk of disease outbreaks. Despite these challenges, Riza praised the close cooperation between the UN, international organizations, and partners.

Many agencies are responding, he asserted.

Riza rejected any claims of discrimination between displaced groups, noting that both Lebanese and Syrians are currently staying in UNRWA schools. He added that talks with the government about sheltering displaced Syrians have been positive.

Riza also expressed concern about the school year and children’s education.

Prolonged Conflict

The United Nations sees no immediate solution to the humanitarian and military crisis in Lebanon, with Riza stressing that the solution must be political and diplomatic, but first, a ceasefire is needed.

While there is little optimism for an end to the conflict, Riza said, the UN is encouraged by the support from its partners, which helps the organization assist the displaced.

He mentioned the recent evacuation of 1,000 people from Ain Ebel and aid distribution in Tyre, emphasizing the need to ensure that they reach those in need.

Riza called on all sides to respect international and humanitarian laws, allowing safe access for aid workers.

He condemned violations, including the deaths of firefighters, health workers, civil defense staff, and UN personnel, adding that the toll on civilian and health infrastructure is growing.

B20 Women in Business Chair to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Seek to Empower Women, Increase Access to Employment Opportunities