JOB CRITERIA FOR A SOMALI FEMALE BROADCASTER CAUSES UPROAR

[Deeq A.]

Mogadishu (PP News Desk) The Somali Federal Ministry of Information is facing criticisms for job advertisement for a Somali female broadcaster.

Two of the criteria have attracted comments in the social media. One criterion stated the female applicant “should be tall, have proportionally built physique and be telegenic”. The second criterion read: “the applicant must have a broadcaster’s voice and be well-dressed”.

The former Somali Federal Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Abdi Aynte described the criteria as “a violation of our Islamic precepts”. Aynte called for the Ministry of Information to withdraw the job advertisement.

Aynte: The job criteria violated our Islamic precepts 

“The criteria do not fully reflect the job of a broadcaster. Subjective a considerations such as the look of a person are discriminatory” says Ali  Farah, an employment law solicitor in London. “What the Ministry of Information could do is to advertise the job and send potential applicants jobs specifications and criteria by email or make it downloadable.”

No mention of the reputation of the potential applicant is made in the criteria. It is not clear if the Ministry of information will employ people with questionable journalistic career. The job is based in Mogadishu. Clarity on where interviews will take place is missing in the job advertisement. Female applications from far-away regions who apply for the job are at a disadvantage. Applicants can send application to the Director of the Somali National Television by email or through Whatisapp.

A revised job advertisement 

The Somali Ministry of Information has since revised the job advertisement. The new advertisement that does not contain a reference to the body and height of female applicants.

© Puntland Post, 2020  

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