Misuse of religion has hampered Libyan women from joining the labour market or getting involved in business but investors in a new Libya could do much to change the situation, according to a young Libyan activist.

Issraa Murabit, vice president of the NGO Voice of Libyan Women, told businessmen that Libyan women pursuing a career faced four main challenges: religious prejudice, social stigma, lack of security and unfavourable work-life balance conditions.

She was speaking at a two-day conference, New Libya Forum, organised by Maltese consultancy firm EMCS and audit firm Deloitte, that started yesterday.

The conference brought together scores of Maltese, Libyan and foreign businessmen and was addressed by speakers ranging from Libyan officials to investors and market analysts.

In a lively 15-minute speech – possibly the only one that stuck to the allocated time – Ms Murabit urged potential investors in Libya to adopt women-friendly policies.

Starting with religion, she said employers could provide a place for prayer for women in the workplace and adopt a company dress policy that took into account Muslim women’s choices in clothing.

“Misuse of religion”, she said, hampered women from following a career despite a majority of university graduates being women.

Another stumbling block, she added, was the social stigma associated with women taking on leadership roles and the scrutiny that came with it.

Ms Murabit said companies should educate all employees on how to handle public scrutiny but insisted it was also important to have internal policies against harassment.

Safety and security, issues raised more than once during the conference, were of particular concern to women, she added.

Even if for the short term, until security returned to all Libya, she urged companies to have security available at the workplace and if women had to go back home late at night, a driver should be provided to make them feel safe. Ms Murabit said the nine-to-five work template was not adequate for working women with children and urged businessmen to adopt flexitime policies and Libyan authorities to create subsidised childcare centres close to places of work.

Her presentation, almost a leaf out of the current debate in Malta on encouraging more women to join the labour market, provided a different twist to the often repetitive speeches yesterday.

Security was a top concern for many and as different speakers emphasised the risks associated with the numerous weapons in the hands of militias, they also spoke of hope for a new Libya.

It was a contradictory message but possibly one that painted a realistic picture of today’s Libya as it struggles to rid itself of the legacy of a corrupt Gaddafi regime and create new social, economic and civil structures.

The conflicting message was aptly characterised by Hesham Krekshi, the deputy chairman of the Tripoli local council, who insisted the revolution was not yet over.

“It is a chapter still to be written,” he said as the big screen behind him beamed images of billboards set up in Tripoli showing smiling Libyans celebrating change.

Misuse of religion hampers women from following a career despite a majority of university graduates being women

Conference delegates heard how oil, construction and tourism were the three main economic pillars that would drive growth, with Jalal Husni Bey, chief executive of Husni Bey Group, a leading Libyan company, calling for lower taxation and liberalisation to allow the private sector to flourish.

Mr Bey said Libya had to do away with the channels of nepotism and corruption that stifled economic growth under the Gaddafi regime.

Finance Minister Tonio Fenech closed yesterday’s session urging businessmen to “recognise and accept” the changes in Libya and “learn the new language of communication with a New Libya”. Mr Fenech said building democracy had to happen in parallel with a process of reconciliation.

Malta was ready to help, he added, and a memorandum of understanding was signed to allow 1,000 young Libyans to study here.

The forum is expected to continue today with an opening address by Opposition leader Joseph Muscat.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com