Full backing for working women

RIYADH: The Ministry of Labor has said it would not hesitate to fulfill the requirements of female workers in private sector companies by providing safe, productive and stabilized environments which would enable them to carry out their jobs with due privacy and professionalism.
The ministry said it would conduct intensive inspections to monitor violations and impose punishments on violators who fail to follow regulations and requirements.
Abdul Moneim Al-Shehri, assistant undersecretary for private programs, said the ministry had prepared a package of requirements and mechanisms, which would guarantee full privacy for women working in private sector firms.
He said the ministry was cooperating with investors and owners of shopping centers Kingdomwide to provide appropriate work environments for women.
He also stressed that the ministry would protect Saudi women workers from unfair competition with foreign women workers.
For areas allocated for selling women’s requirements within multi-section shopping centers, the regulations for women’s lingerie shops will apply. For sections employing five male or female workers or fewer in one shift and selling part of their goods as women requirements, the regulations of women’s lingerie shops will apply. Therefore, the owner of the business must either employ female Saudis for the whole section or not sell goods classified as women’s items, he said.
He said the employer must ensure independence of the section(s) where women are working from other sections based on the nature and design of the shopping center. “If the section is allocated as women only, then what is inside that section must be completely concealed and a “Women Only” sign must be displayed.”