FATIMA MUHAMMAD

SAUDI GAZETTE

JEDDAH — Women will be replacing men in kiosks in all malls, Fahad Al-Tukaifi, assistant deputy minister for special programs and the supervisor of women employment programs at the Ministry of Labor, announced here on Monday.

Addressing a session on women issues in the labor market at the Human Resources Forum, he said employing women has been lately associated with the retail sector only. 

Regulations will facilitate the employment of women not only in shops but also in factories, gold stores, catering and other private sector businesses, he said, adding that modalities to organize work for women in the private sector will be issued very soon. 

According to him, women leaving their jobs in the retail sector is a healthy phenomenon. This creates competition. Women, he noted, used to earn SR2,500 a month, but their salaries now range between SR5,000 and SR6,000.

Al-Tukaifi was addressing concerns raised by business leaders about women leaving their jobs. Up to 50% of female employed in this sector leave their jobs, a number that has been described as “alarming.”

Moderating a session at the forum, Vice Chairperson of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) Lama Al-Sulaiman said women should be provided opportunities to work in senior positions in the public sector.

“Women, who are on scholarship program, will be qualified and equipped to hold leading positions. They should not be restricted to only women related management roles in the government,” she said.

Ibrahim Al-Muaiqli, director of the Human Resource Development Fund, said the Ministry of Labor is working hand-in-hand with the private sector to help women work from home.

Basmah Al-Omair, executive director of Khadija Bint Khuwaylid Center, said that they have done a number of studies into different aspects of women’s role and commitment to the labor market and their participation in society.

According to their findings, 90 percent of women and 79 percent of men believe women’s commitment in the labor market is crucial. It also found that 45 percent of private sector companies have plans to include women among their staff. The survey included 3,000 persons from different regions of the Kingdom.

Lately, the center has conducted a study among female cashiers. The study included 1000 female cashiers in 11 different cities. It found that 85 percent of the sample reported decent interaction with their male colleagues. Some 63 percent received support from their families prior to working while this percentage increased to 83 percent after work.

This indicates that families are reluctant to send their women to work as they have a vague vision about work atmosphere. However, when the environment is safe, the families immediately end their resistance. “Women working in this sector want to work only for three to four years. This is not restricted to the Kingdom, but many other counties are witnessing the same problem,” Al-Omair said.

She said the center has finalized a code of ethics that they encourage companies employing women and men to implement. The code includes regulations and penalties to be implemented in case of harassment or abuse. It also provides an ideal sample for suitable work environment and a dress code.

Hisham Al-Kaldi, human resource director at Al-Shaya company, said women working in the retail sector need awareness about their rights. He said employing women has resulted in costumer satisfaction and a 16 percent increase in sales.