MAKKAH — A number of shop owners and workers have said they have faced numerous challenges during the first two phases of the Ministry of Labor's plan to ensure only female employees are working in shops selling women's fashion, with the third phase due to be implemented soon. Shopowners are claiming that they facing difficulties employing Saudi women in such jobs and are asking concerned authorities to allow expatriates to be employed in these positions. Samirah Al-Abadi, supervisor in a shop selling women underwear, said she and her colleagues in other shops are facing problems because they have to work two shifts. She noted that working two shifts disrupts their lives and does not allow them to find a balance between their work and family requirements, adding that this has caused many women to resign from their jobs. Wasayef Mansour, an employee, said one of the problems she encounters during her work is the insistence of some men to enter such shops with their wives, who then become jealous when they see the employees talking to their husbands. “Many women leave the shop without buying anything or simply create a problem to give them an excuse to leave, causing many women employees to resign to avoid any possible harassment or needless arguments with shoppers,” she said. She believes that women employees should be trained on how to deal with customers and adapt to the pressures of work, in addition to modifying working hours for women employees so they can have a life at home. Furthermore, she believes that shop owners should be forced to provide women with transportation allowance, or at least provide transport to them to and from their homes. Mariam Saeed suggested shop owners should place reflecting glass on shop fronts so that women employees and customers can feel comfortable and enjoy their privacy. Another employee, Manal, expressed annoyance at having to work in shops that have many sections because it means she has to work alongside men. She indicated that many women have left work because of this. Many women are also refusing to work in women-only shops because there are no specialized women-only shopping malls or they are not equipped with restrooms or praying areas. “Many shop owners impose difficult conditions on women employees such as forcing them to expose their faces and wear make-up and colorful hijab,” she said. Many shop owners are complaining that several families are refusing their daughters to work at women-only shops and have a negative view of such jobs. Shops are under pressure to perform well during peak seasons, and many women cannot adapt to such pressures, they said. They asked the Ministry of Labor to allow non-Saudi women to work in these shops, especially as many cannot find other jobs due to Saudization requirements. “Preparing shops for women employees can cost in excess of SR30,000 and, in addition to the high rental costs, this has become a financial burden on shop owners,” a businessman said.
