Though she had a high school certificate and a computer programming diploma Amal (not her real name) could not find a job in the government sector. Consequently, she had to settle for employment in the private sector. She has worked as a saleswoman in a women’s boutique for the past three years, earning SR2,000 and working two shifts.

“That’s the best deal I could get. Though I work more than nine hours in the summer, my employer, a businesswoman, cut 300 from my salary for six months saying that’s all that I deserve. I complained, not vociferously nor did I take any further action as I desperately needed the job to support my family,” said Amal.

“What was really ironic was that while I had to take a cut in my salary, government employees were getting a 5 percent hike in theirs.”

Amal works two shifts. As the shop where she works is in north Jeddah and she lives in the south, commuting is a major issue, especially as her salary does not cover transportation.

Hence she spends most of the time between shifts at the boutique. “I can’t afford to have lunch everyday at the mall restaurants or even a cafeteria as that would eat up a sizable chunk of the allowance I give myself and I would end up broke in the middle of the week,” she explained.

She manages with bread and cheese. “It can also be a useful way to diet,” she said with a smile.

Amal is just one case. Many saleswomen complain not only of low wages and extra work that is not compensated for but also for the lack of any sort of contract that protects their rights.

Contract!

“Contract? You’re kidding. The majority of Saudi women working in boutiques do not have contracts,” said one saleswoman who asked not to be named.

The majority of the women, whom Arab News met, also knew nothing of the existing Saudi labor laws. They were never given the code that states their rights. “I never knew there was one. What can it do for me anyway?” Was the comment by most of them when told about the regulations that in theory govern work.

They did not even know that it was their right to ask to be paid for the extra hours they do in the summer shopping season.

The few who knew their rights said it was nearly impossible to be heard and a veritable hassle to demand them; and of course, if they persist, they risk becoming the victims of the next employee staff cuts.

“If I file a complaint without having a contract in the first place, the Labor Ministry will blame me. Even if they accept the validity of my complaint, it will take time and I’ll be out of work. And I cannot afford that,” said one Saudi saleswoman.

“The businesswoman knows that no one will work for so little pay without bonuses or promotions unless they really need the job. They know this and use it to their advantage, but what can we do?” she added.

Legal adviser Omar Al-Saab said that this situation needed to be carefully investigated by the Labor Ministry.

“It’s obvious that these women are at an disadvantage and the ministry might want to initiate women inspectors to check regularly on these shops, boutiques and any place that women work in. Another possibility would be to hold labor rights workshops at various chambers of commerce in the country and invite all working women,” said Al-Saab.

“The calls for enrolling women in the work force should not undermine the need to establish a solid ground for workers’ rights.”