A popular restaurant chain in Jeddah stipulated 22 Saudi applicants to undergo a test as “tablecloth washers.” Open only for the Saudi women, the job starting next week requires them to meet specific qualifications and conditions.

The job description entails working at the chain’s laundry to wash and prepare the restaurants’ tablecloths and napkins. Automatic washing machines are set in the laundry that has a special entrance.

A SR3,000 monthly wage, traveling costs, medical insurance and social security registration will be offered to the employees in exchange for six hours of work per day.

An official at the restaurant said the four successful candidates would need to know how to read and

write.

“We opened this job only for the Saudis because the laws prevent women from working inside the restaurants,” the official said on condition of anonymity. Saudization laws require companies to include a quota of Saudi workers and another quota for them in order to be able to bring in foreign labor.