JEDDAH, 11 April 2006 — The government’s decision to replace salesmen with Saudi saleswomen at lingerie shops will be implemented in two phases, according to Abdul Wahid Al-Humaid, deputy labor minister for planning and development.
Speaking to reporters in Riyadh, he said the sales jobs at lingerie shops along the streets, central markets and major shopping centers would be restricted to Saudi women starting on June 18.
In the second phase set to begin next year, sales jobs at shops of abayas and women’s readymade dresses will be restricted to Saudi women, the Saudi Press Agency quoted Al-Humaid as saying.
The ministry has appointed 30 women officials in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to implement the Council of Ministers’ decision.
Last week, Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi said his ministry would not back off from the decision. “The directive is binding and there will be no retraction in its implementation,” Al-Gosaibi said. “Providing jobs for women has been a priority for decision makers in the Kingdom for more than 25 years.”
Al-Humaid admitted that there would be difficulties initially while implementing the decision. He, however, warned that violators of the law would be punished. He ruled out suggestions that foreign women could be recruited to work at lingerie shops.
Answering a question, the deputy minister said Saudi salesmen working at female clothing stores would be given jobs elsewhere while implementing the decision.
Al-Humaid dismissed suggestions there was lack of women seeking jobs. He put the rate of unemployment among Saudi women at 28 percent. “The problem is not the lack of an adequate number of Saudi women workers but with creating better job atmosphere, in terms of salaries and suitable timings,” he explained.
Al-Humaid was bullish about Saudi women’s abilities and said they are productive and are as good as Saudi men and expatriate workers. “We want to make sure that women job-seekers get opportunities,” he said.
Al-Humaid said studies by government agencies made proposals to limit working hours of shops and markets. He said labor offices across the Kingdom were ready to receive applications for women jobseekers.
The Labor Ministry has launched a campaign aimed at employing 200,000 women. Some of the jobs that have been identified for Saudi women are receptionists, tailors, banquet hall employees, nutritionists, governesses, photographers, beauticians, caterers, and hospitality and recreation industry workers.
A study presented at the recently held manpower development forum in Riyadh said 60 percent of Saudi women preferred to work from home. Saleh ibn Sulaiman Al-Rasheed, professor of management at King Faisal University who conducted the study, dismissed suggestions that working from home would deny women important jobs.
He emphasized the need for enacting laws that would allow women to work from their homes. “Working from home has been a tremendous success in many advanced countries,” he pointed out.
