barfly
30-06-05, 10:42
RIYADH, June 30 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has ordered
lingerie shops to replace their salesmen with Saudi women,
newspapers in the conservative Muslim kingdom said on Thursday.
The government decision gave lingerie stores a one-year
deadline to employ women, while shops selling items including
the long black abaya cloaks which women must wear in public have
two years to bring in female sales teams.
The shops must be designed to offer privacy and ensure women
inside "avoid interaction with men", newspapers quoted a Labour
Ministry ruling as saying.
It said the move will help Saudi women find jobs.
But it will also end an awkward anomaly in the deeply
conservative society.
While women are not supposed to mix in public with men
outside their immediate family, they have little alternative to
buying their most intimate items of clothing from men.
Women in Saudi Arabia, who are not allowed to drive or vote,
also face employment restrictions because of the need to
segregate sexes.
The Labour Ministry announcement said the women's shops must
be designed to prevent anyone from outside looking in, and that
women's sections in larger shops should have separate entrances.
Weg met die zondige kerels in lingeriezaken! :duim:
lingerie shops to replace their salesmen with Saudi women,
newspapers in the conservative Muslim kingdom said on Thursday.
The government decision gave lingerie stores a one-year
deadline to employ women, while shops selling items including
the long black abaya cloaks which women must wear in public have
two years to bring in female sales teams.
The shops must be designed to offer privacy and ensure women
inside "avoid interaction with men", newspapers quoted a Labour
Ministry ruling as saying.
It said the move will help Saudi women find jobs.
But it will also end an awkward anomaly in the deeply
conservative society.
While women are not supposed to mix in public with men
outside their immediate family, they have little alternative to
buying their most intimate items of clothing from men.
Women in Saudi Arabia, who are not allowed to drive or vote,
also face employment restrictions because of the need to
segregate sexes.
The Labour Ministry announcement said the women's shops must
be designed to prevent anyone from outside looking in, and that
women's sections in larger shops should have separate entrances.
Weg met die zondige kerels in lingeriezaken! :duim: