According to a decision issued by the board on Tuesday, the working hours for women employees will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., while their male counterparts are to come at 8.30 a.m. and leave at 4.30 p.m.
Prior to this change, all employees used to come to work at 9 a.m. and leave at 5 p.m.
“By this new change in working hours, men and women will not mix on arrival or departure when they have to sign in and sign off,” said the JCCI.
Male employees said the reason behind the change was unconvincing. “In many departments men and women work together. Despite the glass partitions, they communicate, ask questions and discuss work-related matters,” a male employee said on condition of anonymity.
Another employee said he comes to work after dropping his children off at school. “After dropping my kids off at school, I have to remain in my car until 8.30 a.m. when I will be allowed to enter the building,” he said.
There are about 20 to 30 women employees in the chamber and men outnumber them many times over. There are sections in the chamber, which are exclusively manned by women, including the Khadijah Bint Khuwailid Center and the IT Communications Center, which updates economic and social data within the Jeddah Economic Gate project.
According to sources, the new change in office hours is one of several decisions the board has taken including the laying off of employees due to poor performance, constant abstentions or coming late to office.
The sources said the board has also warned part time employees either to become full-time employees or resign.
