Saudi women here have criticized the Ministry of Labor's requirement that they have their mahrams with them for official business at the ministry. The Ministry of Labor, however, denied that women need a mahram for business purposes and said that women can appoint legal representatives. Some women alleged the ministry's officials refused to serve them because they did not have their mahram, or legal guardian, with them, according to a report in Al-Watan newspaper. The ministry's branches refused to process their paperwork even when their appointed legal representatives were present, they said. Hattab Al-Enezi, spokesman of the Ministry of Labor, said women have the right to give the power of attorney to whomever they wish, regardless of whether that person is a man or a woman. He said the ministry does not put a condition that the legal representative must be a mahram. Earlier, however, Al-Watan newspaper reported that Al-Enezi confirmed the requirement of a mahram. He said the ministry will modernize its regulations to make it easier for women. “The managers of establishments run by women will be allowed to follow-up on transactions at the ministry.” Based on earlier reports, female service seekers had described the requirement as unfair. They said that it was common practice to appoint a legal representative or an office of public services to act on their behalf at any ministry. “The Ministry of Labor is the only ministry which requires women to bring their mahram with them,” they had said. Layla Al-Oraifi, a businesswoman, said: “The Shariah gives a woman the right to do what she wants with her money and to run her own business.” Ayedh Al-Qahtani, vice chairman of the lawyers' committee at the Chamber of Commerce in the Eastern Province, said: “A woman is completely responsible for any losses or profits.”
