Sharifah Al-Shamlan
It is as if women were just creatures that live among us and need looking after. They have been belittled and disrespected for a long time and for as long as I can remember. They were once banned from going to school. A controversial debate ensued at that time and ended with women winning. Girls’ schools were built and fathers enrolled their daughters. However, the problems faced by women are far from over.
Women have been experiencing difficulties processing their documents in government offices, such as those run by the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Social Affairs because the women’s sections are usually small and located at the back of buildings whereas men’s sections are usually large and conspicuous. When the number of female graduates increased and the rate of unemployment among women increased, the authorities created job opportunities for them in the private sector and women’s sections became larger.
Then the Ministry of Labor made a requirement for companies and businesses to provide sections for women where there would be no mixing with men. This was a step in the right direction as it gave women more leeway to freely work without feeling any pressure from men.
Recently, the Ministry of Labor announced a SR1,000 fine on women who do not wear the hijab at work. Strangely enough, the fine is higher than the one imposed on drivers who run a red light. We do want female workers to wear the hijab and observe social rules but what about the men who run red lights. Such drivers commit grave mistakes and jeopardize lives.
Furthermore, which form of hijab is the ministry talking about? Does it wish for women to cover their faces, except their eyes, or to only cover their heads as they do in Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan? Some women in these countries do not cover their hair but wear long pants and blouses. Perhaps the hijab the ministry is talking about is of another type. It would be useful if the ministry explained to us the type of hijab it wants women to wear in the workplace.
I am certain that the ministry wants the best for women. I have no doubt about that. However, imposing a significant fine of this sort on women who do not wear the hijab at work is going a step too far. I am sure the ministry has female inspectors and consultants. It should use them to convince women to wear the hijab at work instead of imposing fines.
I wonder what the ministry is going to do with large companies like Saudi Aramco where a number of American women and others do not wear the hijab.
Saudi women know very well the difference between what can be worn at work and what can be worn at special events. They do not need fines to make them understand the difference.
