Saudi women find jobs at lingerie stores exciting

Saudi saleswomen are excited to have started their sales jobs at lingerie and women’s accessory stores in Makkah, Al-Madinah Arabic daily reported this week. The Labor Ministry’s mandatory directive to appoint Saudi saleswomen at lingerie shops, starting on Jan. 4, would be a major step in addressing the growing unemployment problem among women graduates, they agreed unanimously. Additionally, it would help them support their families. The women see this is a positive development toward achieving progress and development of women, who make up more than half of the Kingdom’s population. They also consider it a good experiment to employ jobless Saudi women in the vital private sector. Sales at some lingerie shops have soared 75 percent after Saudi women replaced foreign salesmen. Bashair Babaeer, a saleswoman at a lingerie shop, said she faced no difficulties or awkwardness in her new job. “Even though I am a secondary school graduate and holder of a secretarial diploma, I could not find a suitable job. When I heard about the sales jobs at lingerie shops, I was very happy to apply and I got the job,” she said. Babaeer noted she received good support and encouragement from her family and relatives. “We have received a very good company training before taking up the job. This training played an important role in making the job much attractive to us,” she said while adding that her salary was very good, compared with her qualifications. Basma completed only her intermediate school education. She recently joined a famous lingerie shop in Makkah as a saleswoman. She is extremely happy with the new job. “My salary and allowances are much higher than I could have hoped for, considering my comparatively lower educational qualification. I am eager to consolidate my position in this job and I strive to attract many more women to this field, instead of staying at home without doing anything,” she said. Umm Kulthum, a secondary school graduate, said that the training course helped her a lot to acquire skills on how to interact with customers. “I had been in pursuit of a job for a long time. When I heard about the vacancies for saleswomen, I was one of the first to apply for the job,” she said, adding that she was delighted to have a very good monthly income. Mauni took up her sales job after abandoning a menial job at a university. “During my 2-year stint at the university, I made a monthly salary of SR1,000. Now I have earned SR3,500 during the three-month training period at a shop,” she said, adding that she is getting much support and encouragement from her family and relatives. Mauni urged all jobless young Saudi women to develop a positive approach toward this job opportunity, which “helps you to develop yourself while you gain work experience.” Ala Al-Amri said that it was the support and encouragement from her family that pushed her to the new field. “My family’s support played a great role in building my confidence. As a saleswoman you need to have the courage, endurance and capacity to interact with various types of customers,” she said. Azhaar Aqeel Zain, director and saleswoman in charge of a lingerie shop in Makkah, said there has been an increase of 75 percent in the sales revenues of her shop after enforcing a ban on salesmen. “Now female customers are coming in large numbers. They are in a relaxed mood as they don’t have fear any awkward situations,” she said. Zain said she doesn’t allow husbands to accompany their wives in her lingerie shop. “Husbands used to be allowed to enter lingerie shops but now we deny them permission for the sake of other female customers,” she said. According to Zain, there have been some women who abandoned their sales jobs to become beneficiaries of the Hafiz unemployment program. “Still, many women prefer sales jobs to sitting idle at home with Hafiz as the work would give them recognition in the society,” she said. Several female customers expressed their happiness over the new law. Maram, one of the customers, said she is very happy she doesn’t have to deal with any embarrassment while shopping at lingerie shops. “It was a great delight for me when I heard the news. It will serve the interest of female customers and reduce unemployment among Saudi women,” she said. On the behavior of the new saleswomen, Maram said: “They are elegant and pleasing. This will attract female customers to these shops. I am happy not to have to deal with foreign salesmen any more, while shopping at lingerie shops.” Fatima, another customer, commented: “This fabulous idea came into reality. Officials are monitoring the women, who are strictly adhering to Islamic dress and following the Kingdom’s traditions and customs.” Omran Abdullah, a security official, said that even men are happy to see their women shopping freely at lingerie shops. “I have no objection to even my sister taking up a sales job at one of these shops,” he added.