Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — A member of the pharmacies committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) has alleged that the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) is hindering the employment of women in public pharmacies. Ibrahim Al-Badawi said the commission is hindering the employment of female pharmacists even though the workplace adheres to all the rules and regulations. "The commission seems to be targeting public pharmacies and turning its eyes away from private pharmacies inside shopping centers. The public pharmacies will have a partition separating men from women working there," said Al-Badawi. He also said the commission is pushing investors into opening pharmacies that are for women only. "Investors are not inclined to do so because it limits their customers. The committee is responsible for facilitating the investment process and enabling investors in the industry. With such a push, investors feel they are up to lose more than gaining money if they invested in a women-only pharmacy," said Al-Badawi. He also said the committee encourages women to work as pharmacists as there is a great number of graduates with a degree in pharmaceuticals. "There are 500 graduates from one college and there are 17 colleges in the Kingdom. If they are not employed in the pharmaceutical industry, where will they work?," asked Al-Badawi. Medicine consultant Anas Zarie said the Ministry of Labor has clear requirements for women's workplaces. "If the work environment conforms to the ministry's regulations, there will be no complaints of the inconveniences of women working in pharmacies. The work environment must ensure the safety, comfort and privacy of women employees," said Zarie. He added there is a need for women employees in the industry. "The pharmaceutical industry is dominated by women on the global scale. The industry in the Kingdom must support the employment of women and remove all obstacles in the way. Investors are opting to hire men over women due to the more facilitated requirements for men," said Zarie. Pharmaceuticals College graduate Rahaf Majdali said most women graduating from her college prefer to work in hospitals over public pharmacies. "In a hospital, the work environment is more focused on the medical aspect of pharmaceuticals. However, in public pharmacies there are a lot of commercial aspects that many graduates have no interest in participating in," said Zarie. She added in some pharmacies the employees are expected to work as saleswomen when their degree is much higher than that position. "Pharmacy owners need to recognize the difference between working as cashiers in pharmacies. Let women with experience and training as retail saleswomen work as cashiers and allow pharmacists their due job in advising for medicines," said Zarie.
