Another first: Women work in coffee shops

The Labor Ministry has said it is creating new jobs for women to decrease unemployment among women registered in the “Hafez” program.
Today the number of Saudi women working in restaurants and coffee shops is on the rise. Restaurant coordinator Alaa Khalid said she registered in the Hafez program and soon after received three offers, one of which was in a coffee shop.
“I thought it was the most appropriate because the other jobs required working in the morning, but in the coffee shop, I am required to work between 5 and 10 in the evenings.” She added there is no danger since the coffee shop is on a main road, has security guards, is well-known and that other girls work there.
Iman Mohammad, a cleaning supervisor at another restaurant, said: “The girls working here are able to work in many fields, but their work during this period is limited to receiving guests to the coffee shop and directing them to seating divided into the food section and the beverage and juice section and making sure guests are satisfied with the service, in addition to answering the phone and making table reservations.”
She said before starting work, the girls are trained for a week on how to receive customers and provide quality service and that there are advanced training courses that the girls may take later on.
At first, Iman’s family was against her working in such a job. Her husband was supportive of the idea but said society as a whole needs to change before more young women are accepted for such jobs.
Ahmad Al-Ghamdi, a regular at coffee shops, denounced female Saudis working in such places: “This kind of work for Saudi women is against our culture, especially since these jobs are all about interacting with guests.”
Ahmad Ali, a restaurant and coffee shop owner, pointed out: “Female workers are more professional than their male counterparts because women look for work out of need. At present, we have three female workers, one of whom has become a manager of 50 waiters.”
He said that because of prevailing culture, the acceptance of female workers in this sector varies from one case to another. If certain conditions are met at the work place, he believes Saudi society will accept the idea of female workers.
Hospitality Committee member in the Jeddah Camber of Commerce and Industry Adel Makki said: “The employment of young Saudi women in restaurants and coffee shops as coordinators and administrators is subject to special conditions that respect the nature of women by making sure there is enough space in the restaurant, a prayer room and a room to rest during a break.