JEDDAH: The Jeddah Municipality has issued new requirements for the issuing of licenses where women will be employed – including extra security, segregation from other shops, a single entrance, location on main streets, and the need for an interior that cannot be seen from the outside. The move is in preparation for replacing men workers at shops meant for women – including those shops selling lingerie. Currently men workers sell lingerie and other intimate clothing to women, causing them a great deal of discomfort. It is part of a campaign entitled “No More Embarrassment” which started a month ago. Dr. Basheer Abu Najm, the director general of licenses at Jeddah Municipality, confirmed this week that the new licensing regulations are aimed at supporting the “No More Embarrassment” campaign. Talal Al-Ghanmi, the executive director of the campaign, has met with Abu Najm to discuss ways to accelerate the process of “feminizing” the shops by issuing the required licenses. “We agreed that the shops where women work would also have signboards showing that they are only for women. The municipality has already approved the opening of different shops for women, including cafeterias, restaurants, appliance and computer maintenance shops, women's lingerie shops, and some leisure outlets that will be run, operated and visited only by women, said Al-Ghanmi. The campaign has been widely supported across the Kingdom. There is most support for the campaign in Riyadh at 44 percent, followed by Jeddah and Dammam.
