RIYADH: The National Commerce Committee of the Council of Saudi Chambers has demanded that the Ministry of Labor and Social Development re-look at its decision to shut shopping centers at 9 p.m.

It cited a study carried out by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry last week to day that shops could lose up to 44 percent of their revenues if they were to close at 9 p.m.

Suleiman Al-Eiri, chairman of the committee, said that the minister of labor and social development should re-look at the decision and judge whether it was in line with the Vision 2030, promoting investments and the national economy.

The ministry announced on July 20 that a proposal to shut all shopping centers at 9 p.m. had been forwarded to higher authorities for approval.

The members of the committee are of the view that such a decision could hamper the contributions of the sector to the development of commercial activity in the Kingdom in particular, and the national economy in general.

The ministry said recently that it supports the idea of closure of commercial centers at 9 p.m. except amusement centers, game cities, restaurants and cafés. These places would close at midnight, and during holidays they would close by 1 a.m.

The committee that suggested the closure of the shopping centers by 9 p.m. comprised officials from the ministries of Labor and Social Development, Commerce and Investment, Municipal and Rural Affairs, Islamic Affairs, Saudi Electricity Company as well as the Committee for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

The government argues that a 9 p.m. closure of shops would reduce working hours and make it attractive for Saudis to work in commercial centers.