CAIRO: At least 100 lingerie shops in Saudi Arabia have been closed after they had violated a decree that only allowed female staff to work in the shops as part of the “feminization and nationalization of jobs” in the country. A labor ministry official was quoted by local press as saying the move aims to “provide a safe environment for working women.” Beginning this year, the ultra-conservative country barred men from working at lingerie shops and threatened to close any shop that failed to meet the women-only requirements. This was the first such crackdown in the country. Economists in the country say the decision will give thousands of women the chance to work in the retail industry. The measure covers all types of shops located in shopping malls and elsewhere. “Women are more familiar with cosmetics than men. They know more of types and colours of skin," said Masha'al Al Shamari, head of the communication center at the Saudi labor ministry, in a statement. “Women will be dealing with women. They would feel more comfortable than dealing with men, especially when they are buying lingerie," she was reported as saying by Gulf News, in reference to the now 6-month-old regulation requiring lingerie shops to hire only women employees. The ministry had originally given shops until the first week of January to abide by the lingerie restrictions, but later pushed it back to allow all shops to comply. If a shop is caught with male employees they will face the full penalty of the law, the ministry said earlier this year. The punishments start with preventing the establishments from the services being provided by the ministry and increases until final closure. The shops selling other women material including make-up, accessories and clothes were then given until June 30 to have only women working. Women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had long complained about having to buy their lingerie from male shop attendants.
