Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Owners of several stores selling women's wear fabric are planning to form a group to protest the Ministry of Labor's decision to fully feminize all such stores by the beginning of 2017. The store owners said they plan to raise sufficient money to appoint a lawyer on their behalf to fight the ministry's decision, Al-Eqtisadiah daily reported. The Ministry of Labor, in turn, denounced such moves by traders and stressed that the decision was carefully studied and reviewed and was made in national interest. The owner of three shopping malls in Riyadh circulated a letter among store owners in his malls asking them to pool SR1,000 each so a lawyer can be appointed to fight the decision in the courts. He claimed that the ministry's decision would inflict heavy financial losses on the businesses. Assistant Deputy Labor Minister Fahad Al-Takhaifi said the ministry rejects such agreements by traders and it will not make any concessions on this issue. "Any business found to be violating the decision will be penalized according to regulations. The decision was taken after the ministry consulted with representatives of businessmen, who supported the decision," he said. He explained that businessmen were asked to attend workshops in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam during the second stage of implementing the plan and the ministry's plans were explained to them in detail. Also, the plans were published on the ministry's "Together" e-gate for 45 days to allow businesses to discuss the issues and express their views, he said. "The ministry has sent a letter to the Saudi Council of Chambers expressing its willingness to meet with women traders to discuss all aspects of the feminization decision, but none of them have expressed their desire to meet," he added. He noted that the ministry received letters from two chambers of commerce asking for a meeting with businessmen in general and not with women fabric traders in particular. The third stage of the ministry's feminization plan will include stores selling women's perfumes, maternity wear, shoes, bags, socks, ready-made garments and women's wear fabric. Complete feminization of stores will be completed by the beginning of 2017.
