RIYADH, 31 August 2007 — Daifallah Algulaithy, director of a clinic in the Saudi Assembly of Fighting Smoking that helps smokers kick the habit, has a theory as to why people light up cigarettes indoors at work or in public and government buildings in spite of no smoking policies.
“It’s difficult for a manager to force employees to stop smoking indoors or post anti-smoking literature while he has a cigarette in his hand,” Algulaithy said.
While many countries — especially in the West — appear to be moving toward smoking-free public spaces, Saudi Arabia is a place where people wholly enjoy the freedom of smoking indoors in most places. Even when smoking bans in workplaces are implemented, they’re rarely enforced because — as it turns out — managers like to light up where they please.
The Health Ministry recently implemented a total ban on smoking in government buildings, but those bans are rarely enforced. In fact, few places other than restaurant chains seem to take “No Smoking” areas seriously.
A study conducted recently by GulfTalent claims that 56 percent of all Saudi companies have complete smoking bans, though it is unclear if all of these places enforce these bans or if they simply exist on paper. The study also found that 36 percent of Saudi professionals smoke. The report also claims that Saudi Arabia is one of the Top 5 smoking-friendly countries in the Middle East.
The issue of a lack of enforcement of smoking bans in the workplace disappoints non-smoking employees who believe that the habits of their nicotine-addicted colleagues is harming their health, stinking their clothes and otherwise creating a nuisance.
Homoud Algannam, a Saudi employee who works in a legal office, agrees with Algulaithy’s theory that smoking managers don’t make the best enforcers of no-smoking policies; he says his office is ostensibly a no-smoking workplace, but his manager is a heavy smoker.
“We non-smokers find ourselves either living with smoking risks or looking for other jobs,” he said.