Labor Ministry and JCCI aim to facilitate women’s employment in lingerie shops

The ministry’s Assistant Undersecretary for Development Fahad Al-Takhifi, members of the chambers and owners of women’s fashion shops attended the meeting.
JCCI Deputy Chairwoman Lama Sulaiman said the discussions in the meeting were aimed at removing the hurdles in the way of implementing the recent government order to employ only women in shops that sell women’s clothes.
The discussions also included steps to be taken to create a favorable work atmosphere for women in shops, Al-Takhifi said.
They also discussed the role of the Manpower Development Fund and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation in training and improving the efficiency of women workers as well as punishments for those who refuse to cooperate in employing them.
The official added that no special permit from the Ministry of Labor or any other agency was required to employ Saudi women in such shops.
The regulations stipulate that the inside of shops where women work should not be visible from outside and men should not be allowed to enter them. If the shop is meant for families the view from outside should not be blocked.
Men and women workers should not work in a shop except in those where there are separate divisions. In a shop with separate divisions there should be at least three women working the same shifts.
If the shop is standing alone or part of a commercial complex without any special security measures, there should be a security guard or electronic security system in place in the shop, according to Labor Ministry regulations.
A woman’s shop should also have a sufficient number of toilets close to it. Women workers should also dress moderately and wear hijab, according to the regulations.
The meeting also discussed details of work agreements and contracts for workers in such shops, Al-Takhifi said.