40 stores shut down for not hiring women

(MENAFN- Arab News) Al-Ahsa Municipality has closed down 40 stores for failing to hire women workers.
Maha Al-Sudairi director of the municipality's women directorate said the inspectors would continue with their campaign until all stores abide by the law according to a report in a local publication recently.
The municipality in particular wants business owners to ensure that stores selling maternity wear and abayas must have women employees including facilities for rest and privacy.
Over the next two years all stores selling women's perfume shoes bags socks clothes and textiles must have women workers as stipulated by the Labor Ministry she said.
The ministry recently warned shop owners that they face heavy penalties for failure to comply with the regulations. These include fines of between SR3000 and SR10000 for every expatriate worker they have in their employ. They would also be denied recruitment and residence permit renewals.
According to reports long working hours evening shifts lack of transport and low salaries are discouraging Saudi women from taking up jobs at stores selling female clothing and accessories.
Meanwhile the municipality announced that there has been a 256 percent increase in calls in the first quarter of this year to its general and emergency operations center on the number 940.
This was due to an increased awareness by citizens of this new service which is aimed at reducing time and effort to visit the offices of the municipality said Khalid Boshel spokesman for the municipality. There were 12191 calls last year he said.
Bader Al-Balawi director of central and emergency operations said the automated interactive electronic system allows beneficiaries to communicate with the municipality without the need to visit in person.
The aim is part of the national government's e-services initiatives. The services also include an SMS facility that informs citizens and residents of procedures directly on their mobile phones he said.