Saudi saleswomen complain of Ramadan rush

(MENAFN- Arab News) Saudi saleswomen in lingerie and abaya shops in the Kingdom are finding it difficult to cope with the Ramadan rush, and are complaining that most employers do not comply with Ministry of Labor regulations including fixed working hours and weekly off. While many of them have to put in extra working hours during the holy month, some are apprehensive about working during Eid. Arab News spoke to a cross-section of Saudi female employees and came across allegations of violation of regulations stipulated by the Labor Ministry. Huda Al-Suwailem, a Saudi saleswoman in an abaya shop, said she had taken up the job at the beginning of Ramadan, but she has had to put up with long working hours. "I just landed this job. I find it very difficult to work during the holy month, and it will be virtually impossible to do so during Eid," she said, adding that she hoped to get a day off despite the fact that shop owners have been ignoring the Labor Ministry's requirement of giving a weekly off. According to Al-Suwailem, some of her friends working as saleswomen in a popular beauty parlor get a day off because some expat salesmen are willing to work overtime. "In the abaya shop where I work, the situation is different and I have to work daily since there are only two of us working in this small shop," she said. Durgham Thamer, a Syrian salesman, at a popular perfume and accessories shop, made it clear that he was not willing to work as substitute for saleswomen during Ramadan or Eid. "We take care of several jobs in the gallery while the beauty parlor has more than 16 employees. The new Saudi saleswomen are always trying to influence and convince us to work more, but we refuse," he said. He said: "Saudi saleswomen are seeking justice and are demanding their quota of jobs. They are paid more than us despite the fact that we have more experience. Therefore, I will not agree to work during rush time like Ramadan and Eid, only for them to relax and enjoy. If they want their share of jobs, they should be willing to work at all times, be it peak or relaxed times," he said. Somayya Al-Qusaibei, a Saudi saleswoman in a lingerie shop, pointed out that many employers force their staff to work overtime in the absence of Labor Ministry inspections during Ramadan. "Most female employees don't get a day off. We are forced to work extra hours to cover shortage of employees in the shop. Some employers also decided to reduce the number of saleswomen since they are paid salaries which are higher than salaries of expat salesmen. Thus, having just two or three saleswomen in a big lingerie shop is very heavy load especially during Ramadan and Eid," she said. Hind Mohammed told Arab News that most of the male employees in beauty parlors have gone on their annual vacation in Ramadan. "I noticed that four of the colleagues in the gallery decided to take their annual vacation in Ramadan to visit their respective countries. Most Saudi saleswomen are also demanding vacation during Ramadan, but the company management are in favor of giving vacation to the male staff since most of them are expats and this is the perfect time for them to travel," she said. She said: "Most of us have agreed to work during Ramadan and Eid instead of the male staff only because most of the expats here are Syrians and Egyptians. They need to go home and check the condition of their families. However, we expect the company to follow Labor Ministry rules in terms of Eid vacation, but nothing has happened so far."