Many Saudi women have dropped out of jobs in women’s shops

The Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has accused the Human Resources Development Fund (HADAF) of fabricating a list of Saudi women seeking employment in women’s specialty shops. “These lists are made up and have no credibility,” Ihab Mashshat told business daily Al-Eqtisadiah. “Most of the women on the list cannot be contacted.” Mashshat also criticized the Ministry of Labor saying it was not doing enough to help Saudi women gain employment in women’s stores. “The ministry claims to partner with business people and investors to encourage employment. This is not true. It is only concerned with uncovering shops that are in violation by continuing to employ men.” Sixty percent of women currently employed in specialty shops have left their jobs despite salaries of about SR4,000, social and medical insurance, incentives and sales commissions. Mashshat said the reason for this exodus is the fact that HADAF does not assess women’s needs, offer training, or inspect their working conditions. Thirty percent of the lingerie shops in Makkah went out of business as they were unable to implement the ministry’s decision to hire women. “The drop-out ratio will continue to increase if the Ministry of Labor fails to support the hiring initiative,” he warned.