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May 20, 10:19 AM EDT

30 women teachers demonstrate in Saudi Arabia demanding full time jobs, benefits

By ABDULLAH AL-SHIHRI
Associated Press

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30 women teachers demonstrate in Saudi Arabia demanding full time jobs, benefits
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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- About 30 Saudi women teachers have demonstrated outside the kingdom's Education Ministry, demanding full time jobs.

An Associated Press reporter saw women holding posters Monday calling for full time contracts and benefits that include steady pay and retirement packages.

Some say they have been teaching part time in government schools for more than 10 years. The teachers have demonstrated in the past outside the ministry to press their demands.

Saudi Arabia is struggling to employ some of its best educated women. The Saudi statistics agency says women represent just 15 percent of the country's workforce.

The Labor Ministry says there are more than 200,000 unemployed women seeking jobs in the kingdom, and around 75 percent of them are college graduates.

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