Implementation of new changes in labor regulations under way: Official

JEDDAH: The Ministry of Labor was able to increase the number of Saudi women employees from 70,000 to 428,000 during the past four years, Abdul Munim Al-Shehri, assistant undersecretary for special programs, has said . The ministry is now working on a comprehensive survey for female shops in the Kingdom. The aim of the survey is to prepare a database for all-female shops, he said in an interview to a local daily. “Feminizing female shops achieved positive results during its various implementation stages, and the Ministry of Labor managed to increase the number of working women to more than 428,000 during the past four years,” he said. On the new changes that might take place in feminizing female shops, Al-Shehri said: “Changes will come according to demands of investors in female shops and challenges that face investors and workers; the ministry is studying the possibility of making feminization voluntary in the textile sector, and investors in readymade female clothes will be given extra time to correct their status.” What about investors’ ability to provide a suitable working environment for women? Al-Shehri said: “The ministry stressed that the open labor market should be forced to rearrange shops that sell female lingerie to be located inside the markets and away from other products. Violations, whether related to the labor and visa laws or municipal and commercial, should be rectified.” He said employment channels will be marketed to businessmen and meetings as well as exhibitions will be held, on condition that they take place inside malls. “Marking for training and employment support has been approved by the Human Resource Development Fund, Hadaf, and data will be updated periodically for women who wish to benefit from the national program to aid job seekers, Hafiz,” he said. -Arabnews