SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi women shine as sales clerks

June 24, 2018
Many Saudi businessmen consider employment of women as a national duty.
Many Saudi businessmen consider employment of women as a national duty.

Saudi Gazette report

DARB
– Many Saudi women engage in small-scale trading activities to earn a living and support their families. Some of them double as sales clerks at shopping centers or at shops located along major roads in order to offset their economic problems.

“We face some issues; the most common among them is exploitation by shoppers who tend to pay the lowest price. This greatly affects our earnings,” said one female trader while speaking to Al-Watan Arabic daily.

Um Ramzi, who works in a shop that sells readymade garments for women and children in Darb, said: “The shop was previously divided into two sections; one for males and the other for families. After the feminization drive the partition was removed.”

She added: “The main problem faced by female traders and salespersons is the exploitation of shoppers who lower prices, even after getting a 40 percent discount.”

Um Ramzi urged all shoppers to support saleswomen at shops to help them earn a living.

“I receive a monthly salary of SR2,700 after a SR300 deduction for the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) subscription,” she said.

Um Ahmed, who has been working for the last seven months in a perfume shop, said she received a good number of customers. Her salary is SR2,800 after a SR200 insurance deduction. “I also receive a commission on the monthly sales,” Um Ahmed explained.

Amina who sells home-made products said: “I keep products of productive families in shop shelves and sell them to customers. The manufacturers will come in the evening to collect their take. Each productive family receives an average of SR1,200 weekly from their sales.”

Ebtisam Daifallah, who runs a garments shop along the international road in Darb, said she has appointed a Saudi woman as a salesperson to sell women’s garments.

Amal Abujameela said she received support from business pioneers to open a showroom for children’s garments, adding that she has appointed a Saudi saleswoman.

Nasser Issa Qassim Ameen, owner of a shop for selling goods of productive families, said he allocated 50 corners to sell their products after charging a monthly rent of SR250.

Saleha Aael, who works as a salesperson at a shop for perfumes and cosmetics, said she and other Saudi women were working in two shifts inside the shopping complex. “We feel secure due to the presence of security guards,” she told Al-Watan.

Meead Abdullah said female shoppers find it comfortable to deal with women sales clerks.

“I receive a monthly salary of SR2,000 and I am not registered with GOSI,” Um Abdullah, who works in a perfume shop. She said she received her salary of SR2,000 at least 10 days before the end of every month.

Businessman Mahdi Ibrahim Al-Hamoud, owner of a shopping center in Darb, said he considered employment of Saudi women as a national duty and provided them with every support to ensure their safety and security. Women workers are happy with the presence of prayer halls, recreation facilities and security guards under the same roof.

“We support Saudi women to enjoy employment stability. We support women to start small business ventures as well by offering them three-month rent holiday,” said Al-Hamoud.


June 24, 2018
1679 views
HIGHLIGHTS
SAUDI ARABIA
13 hours ago

Financial package worth SR312 million launched to support Saudi research laboratories

SAUDI ARABIA
14 hours ago

Renovation of 56 heritage buildings in Historic Jeddah completed  

SAUDI ARABIA
15 hours ago

Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan discuss climate action cooperation