Faris Al-Qahtani Okaz/Saudi Gazette RIYADH – The Ministry of Labor has clarified that owners of women's apparel shops are entitled to employ Saudi women as part-timers. However, two part-time employees will be counted as one full-time employee. The ministry enforced a mandatory feminization of women's wear shops from July 7. Ministry sources disclosed that owners of women's wear shops must sign a labor contract with the Saudi women employees. The shop owner and the employee must comply with the terms and conditions stipulated in the work contract. The contract must ensure all rights of employees, including their salary and allowances, in addition to medical insurance to them as well as their dependents. The ministry's regulations also stipulate that the employees are entitled to take advantage of all other benefits that are guaranteed as per the labor law. These conditions are in line with the ministry's keenness to facilitate women working in a safe and appropriate environment. The ministry started intensive inspections on women's apparel shops to check whether they are complying with its decision to employ Saudi female staff by a July 7 deadline. The inspection campaign comes in the second phase to feminizing shops selling women's dresses, abayas and accessories. It is complementary to the first stage of feminizing lingerie shops, and its implementation is compulsory as it is considered to be a national program aimed at employing as many Saudi women as possible.
