Saudi Gazette report RIYADH – The Ministry of Labor will start on Monday intensive inspections on shops selling women's accessories to check whether they are complying with the ministry's decision to employ Saudi female staff by a July 7 (Sha'aban 28) deadline. Punitive measures will be taken against those shops that failed to implement Saudization and other regulations related with it. There will be no leniency toward violators of the regulation, the ministry has said. “Intensive inspections will be carried out in coordination with related agencies throughout the Kingdom from July 8,” the ministry said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The inspection campaign comes in the second phase to feminizing shops selling women's dresses, abayas and accessories. It is complimentary to the first stage of feminizing lingerie shops, and its implementation is compulsory as it is considered to be a national program aimed at employing as many Saudi women as possible. Prior to enforcing the decision, the ministry conducted several workshops and meetings with businessmen over the last two months to make them aware of how to implement this directive. The ministry officials also briefed them on the measures taken to qualify Saudi women to take up these jobs by providing them intensive training. The ministry earlier stated that if violations are detected in a shop, the firm running the shop will be placed in the red category of the Nitaqat program. All services provided by the ministry will be stopped in addition to other penalties stipulated in the labor regulations. The ministry has launched a special page on its website (www.portal.mol.gov.sa) to provide comprehensive information with regard to the second phase of feminizing shops.
The ministry can be intimated through a toll free number (920001173) or email ([email protected]) about non-compliance of any shop in implementing this directive or not arranging the required facilities for Saudi women staff at these shops. “Inspection squads from the ministry will swing into action to raid these shops to verify these complaints and take penal action against the violators,” the ministry added.
