WUNRN
Saudi Arabia - New Labor Law for Lingerie Shops
New rules to protect female shoppers, workers
DAMMAM – The Ministry of Labor is to forge ahead with its requirement that all
lingerie outlets be staffed by Saudi women in response to the demand of the
“Enough Embarrassment” campaign that the shops be staffed by women to comply
with Islamic Shariah.
“The project will be highly supervised to guarantee its success,” said Dr. Ali
Bin Sulaiman Al-Tekhaifi, assistant undersecretary for development at the
ministry, in Dammam Wednesday. He warned that employers who fail to implement
regulations “will be cut off from the ministry’s services”.
Al-Tekhaifi made the announcement at a workshop titled “Organizing women’s work
in lingerie shops” at the Asharqia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“Government authorities, investors and female job seekers are all working
together to serve the nation. The new law takes into consideration the special
role Saudi women have to play in society,” he said.
“Shops that specialize in lingerie and cosmetics shops have until Jan 4, 2012
to comply with regulations. However, other shops will be given until June 30,
2012 to comply with the decree,” he added.
The decision covers all shops whether they are independent or in a shopping
mall or public market.
Shops
that do not comply with the decree will not have their license renewed.
Al-Tekhaifi said: “If the shop is exclusively for women, there must be at least
three Saudi staff per shift and men will be totally banned from entering these
shops.”
The shop must comply with special standards including tinted glass as is the
case in dressmaking workshops and beauty salons. However this is not necessary
if the shop is already segregated for families.
“These shops must also employ Saudi women but it is up to the shop owner
whether it is exclusively run by women or whether it is segregated,” he said.
The women-only shops must be fitted with an electronic security system or if
they are within a mall they must have a comprehensive security system. They
must also have a security guard stationed on the premises unless there is one
located in the shopping mall.
Shops must also be fitted with a suitable women’s restroom or be located near
to one in a mall or market.
Al-Tekhaifi defended the conditions saying they “are natural, easy to fulfill
and flexible. Hence, shopkeepers can comply with these conditions.”
“Female employees must still comply with Islamic Shariah and observe modesty by
wearing a veil (Hijab), though they may wear a uniform if the shop has a
special dress code.”
Employers and female staff must sign a contract to guarantee that their rights
are enforced, which will state whether the women are to work full-time or in
part-time shifts.
“If the shop owner does not fulfill the Ministry of Labor’s conditions, he will
be cut off from the ministry’s services including visas, changing of profession
and recruitment,” Al-Tekhaifi said.
He added that the ministry and the Human Resources Development Fund will
finance the training of female workers. He said employment would be supported
for three years instead of the usual two years.
The program was launched in July 2011 and is to come into effect by 2012
(1433H).