MAKKAH, 24 April 2007 — With plenty of women working professionally in the Kingdom, a growing number of them complain how their male co-workers, employers and clients sexually harass them.

Some women say their employers demand sexual favors, others — particularly those who work in the marketing sector — say clients flirt with them and make indecent proposals. These women then are put in a dilemma over securing deals.

Islamic law is designed to protect women and allows them to work as long as the work they do does not contradict Islamic principles.

However, with the current scarcity of jobs in the Kingdom, women — especially those who are unqualified — find it challenging to gain employment. Therefore some find themselves becoming sales representatives. The women say they are forced to take these jobs in order to meet their financial obligations, especially if they are their families’ only breadwinner.

Employers are also known to deceive and manipulate women by not assigning them fixed salaries, or by employing them for trial periods — sometimes lasting up to four months.

Aisha Muhammad, a Saudi national, has worked as a sales representative at three different marketing and advertising companies.

“I left each company shortly after joining them,” she said, expressing dissatisfaction at the behavior of her bosses and clients.

“The bosses would ask us to satisfy their sexual desires. If we didn’t oblige, they would either fire us or write a complaint to senior management saying we were unfit for the job,” she added.

“Sometimes the clients may not agree to sign a contract unless we agree to their unethical demands,” she added.

Aisha once met a client in order to sign a contract. “He suggested we go to a private location. I refused. He then rang my company and expressed anger that I had turned down his offer. My boss was furious at me for upsetting the client. So I immediately resigned,” she said.

Currently, Aisha is working for an advertising company that “cares about its employees.”

“They tell us that we have the right to stop dealing with clients who harass us. This type of protection is something that many companies don’t provide,” she said.

Siham Ali, a 26-year-old Saudi sales representative, is the eldest of five sisters. Since her father died, she has been responsible for providing financial support to her mother in looking after her four younger sisters.

“I looked for a job but couldn’t find one because I’ve only got a high school degree. I later found a job as a sales representative. I went for the interview and they told me that I didn’t need educational qualifications or experience,” she said, adding that her boss told her that all she needed to do was “dress in sexy clothes” and “do whatever the client wants.”

“I felt confused about whether I should accept the job and help my sisters or leave. I then decided to keep the job thinking that I could easily forget the client as soon as he signs the contract,” said Siham.

She added that for quite some time she continued working without getting “involved” with customers. “I finally fell victim to a client. He insisted on signing a contract outside his office. He also told me he wouldn’t sign it unless I went on a date with him,” she said.

A supervisor at a marketing company (who did not want her name to be published) said that most marketing companies tend to employ women.

“They don’t care much about their qualifications. They’re more concerned about their bodies and how they look,” she said, adding that statistics show that women are much more successful in this line of work than men.

“Working as sales representatives can uplift a woman financially. It can also destroy her dignity. A smart sales representative is the one who serves her client without using her body to promote her product,” she said, adding that she has previously worked as a sales representative and is currently a supervisor at a marketing company.

“I have always been successful at my job and not allowed anyone to harass or harm me in anyway,” she added.

Shadia, 22, is a sales representative. “I was married. After my first child, my husband divorced me and so I went back to live with my parents. My dad told me he couldn’t support me and so I found a job as a sales representative,” she said, adding that the profession is a difficult one.

“It may cost me my self-respect. I urge the authorities to protect women working in it,” she said.

Dania, a strikingly beautiful expatriate working in the Kingdom, said she has managed to get the most out of working as a sales representative.

“In order to work in this industry, women need to put aside their ethics and principles. I manage to earn SR5,000 each month. Many companies are now competing to hire me. I usually sign contracts with clients outside office and at private parties,” she added.

According to Fatima, another expatriate, the marketing industry provides women with lots of opportunities as long as they consider money to be their sole purpose. “I am trying to make the most out of this opportunity. I look beautiful and that helps me a lot in my job. Over time, I’ve managed to acquaint myself with a lot of men. It’s been beneficial,” she said.

Marketing companies defended the role of women in the industry. Talat Baker, a general manager at a marketing company, said: “A lot of people accuse marketing and advertising companies of forcing women to fulfill all of their clients’ needs in order to sign contract. I don’t believe this is absolutely true. I’m against this, I care a lot about my employees.”

Baker added that he guides employees on how to deal with clients. “If a client is known to harass sales reps then we stop dealing with them. This is the case with our company. Other companies may ask their sales representatives to do whatever clients may ask,” he added.

Another manager of an advertising company, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that his company considers the looks of sales representatives important.

“She has to look good and be able to prove that she is able to cater to clients. Many of the girls who work for us are not at all surprised when we tell them this. They come with that frame of mind,” he said, adding that expatriate women tend to be very good at their jobs and more suitable at catering to clients than Saudi women.