Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Ten days after the end of the deadline for the implementation of the third stage of feminizing lingerie shops, several advertisements have come up offering jobs to female trainees.

Inspectors in the Makkah region branch of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development have noticed several violations in shops selling lingerie as they have failed to hire trained female workers, local business daily El- Eqtasidiah said.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Development in the region, during the first week of the implementation of the third phase, and with the participation of official authorities, carried out a series of inspection campaigns on commercial complexes in Jeddah and Makkah to verify the commitment of the private sector establishments to the feminization of shops selling women’s supplies.

A total of 608 violations were reported and legal procedures were taken against them, and 685 establishments were found to be in violation of the decision to “feminize”, and Saudize work procedures.

These intensive campaigns are organized in coordination with the concerned authorities, with the aim of ensuring the commitment of employers to the binding decision. Also, 365 out of the 1,205 inspected facilities were issued warnings.

Khalid Aba Al-Khail, spokesman for the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, said in an earlier statement that the actual implementation of the third phase includes 5,847 establishments that participated in the program to support the growth of nationalization of enterprises, several days after its launch.

The third phase of the decision to feminize and sell women’s supplies includes shops to sell women’s supplies in malls, such as women’s perfume shops, shoes, bags and women’s socks, as well as ready-made women’s clothing and kiosks selling women’s items.

The decision aims at providing women safe and suitable work environment that motivates Saudi women to work and be productive, as well as to increase employment opportunities for Saudi women.