JEDDAH, 21 August 2005 — A clear bold decision made by the highest authorities in the country is being mysteriously interpreted a year later by the Ministry of Labor. Last week many newspapers carried an announcement by Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi regarding a Cabinet decision that was made last year calling for increased job opportunities for women.
According to Dr. Al-Gosaibi, the move was not meant to change women’s work situations but rather to create more suitable work environment. He explained that a suitable work environment entails certain procedures that must be applied in all work areas.
The so-called “righteous work atmosphere” was not welcomed, however, by most women who held great hopes as a result of the Cabinet decision which they felt would revolutionize women’s employment conditions and open the door to new jobs for women in the Kingdom.
The minister listed nine mandatory conditions in work places. The most controversial condition was that women were not to work night shifts. “Women should not work between sunset and sunrise — for a period of not less than 11 hours,” Al-Gosaibi said, quoting Article 161 of the Labor Law.
That rule is not new; it was there on the books long before the minister referred to it. The fact that he cited it might indicate that it is about to be applied.
This specific rule clearly contradicts a rule issued last June by the Ministry of Labor which concerns employing Saudi women in shops selling women’s goods. All shops in Saudi Arabia are opened for two shifts. The night shift that normally lasts till 10 p.m. may, in the summer shopping season, be extended to midnight. In Ramadan of course night shifts normally end about 3 a.m. Thus, applying this specific regulation would turn the Kingdom’s shopping scene upside down.
“If we are forced to employ women, but not to work them on night shifts, we are going to lose all of our customers,” said Naif, an owner of a woman’s clothing shop. He added that unless the decision were imposed on all shops — without privileges made to those who have connections (wasta), small business would have to shut down.
On the other hand, some saleswomen were happy to hear about the prohibition regarding night shifts. “You can’t believe how exhausting it is to work two shifts,” said Nadia Ali. Most of the time she gets home at 11 p.m.
Her colleague, Manal, pointed out that maybe that would be an excuse for shop owners not to hire women. “Personally I think that owners will seize on such a decision and use it to justify employing male foreigners, as their salaries are far less than ours,” Manal said.
Not only saleswomen are going to be affected by the implementing of the rule. Nahawi, a postgraduate student and safety manger at a private hospital in Jeddah, was amazed to hear that such a rule even existed. She goes to the university from early morning till 2 in the afternoon and then sets off directly to her other job and stays there till 10 p.m. Nahawi explained that she started work as a receptionist and because of her strong will and determination, she was promoted to general manager in one of the hospital departments.
“By no means am I willing to give up the position that I reached by hard work and dedication,” she stated angrily.
Dr. Lubna Al-Ansari, a senior member of the National Society for Human Rights, had a completely different point of view. “I suppose that the intention behind the rule is to help women,” she said. She thinks that women’s work places on night shifts need to reinforce security — e.g., in hospitals. She concluded that the goal is for the benefit of women.
“Some people have to earn their living by any available job. People living in ivory towers just don’t get it,” said photographer Samia.
The young photographer objected to the regulation, saying that most of her work is at night. “Should I ask people to change their wedding ceremonies to the afternoon just to satisfy the minister.”
