Saudi Gazette report After the success of feminizing lingerie, apparel and accessory stores, the possibility of women working as waitresses, chefs or managers in the food industry and at family restaurants is not farfetched. With increasing unemployment among Saudi women, family restaurants seem to be the next suitable environment for women to work in, Al-Riyadh daily reported. According to a recent survey, the majority of Saudis prefer dealing with female employees at family restaurants and cafes. Respondents said they would prefer to be tended to and served by respectable women than to have to rely on expatriates. Some of the changes that will occur if women were to start working at family restaurants include the development of a sense of camaraderie between customers and female staffers as Saudi workers have a better understanding and tolerance of Saudi preferences and beliefs. Citizen Abdulrahman Mohammad supports women working in restaurants as long as they do not mix with men. “Women's employment in the food industry will increase the rate of Saudization and decrease our reliance on expatriates. That is especially true due to the fact that the food industry is not unfamiliar to Saudi females as they have always been involved in the food business in festivals and occasions where they are able to sell their homemade goods to both men and women. This is just another indicator of their potential and capability in succeeding and getting the work done as required,” he said. Abdulaziz Khalid also voiced his support for the proposal, which he said will advance the Ministry of Labor and Human Resources Development Fund's drive to encourage more Saudi women to contribute to the Kingdom's economic growth. “Women know how food should be made and served and have proven that they can handle big responsibilities. However, women should only work in female sections or female only restaurants,” he said. Expected success Arwa Ibrahim said due to a tradition of encouraging women to cultivate their culinary skills at a young age, there are many talented female chefs and cooks in the Kingdom and their success in the food industry is all but guaranteed. Hind Dhaifallah, however, discouraged women's employment in the food industry as she believes that there are other more important fields that are in need of female employees such as education and health. “This is a waste of education. Saudi women have already made a name for themselves in the food business. Many run their own businesses from home and advertise through social media websites,” she said. Majed Hawas said that there is nothing wrong with women working in the food industry as long as the environment in which women will work in takes into account Saudi traditions and values when it comes to opposite sex interactions. “If the issue is well-studied and accounted for, such an opportunity will decrease unemployment among women. The food industry itself must be studied to see if it can absorb female employees and in what areas,” he said. Ghazi Bin Zagr, a Shoura Council member, said family restaurants are an ideal environment for women to work in and will give them more choices when they apply for jobs. “By working in a restaurant, women will have a guaranteed source of income, something they do not have when working from home. Despite the fact that traditions and values will be taken into consideration, there will still be opposing and supporting sides. The move will also give women more choices as far as employment opportunities are concerned,” he said.
