Business & Money | Sunday 11 January, 2015 12:01 am |

Experts argue that the Ministry of Labor’s proposal for commercial shops to close at 9 p.m. will boost the Saudization rate in the retail sector by up to 30 percent, especially after the integration of women in the workplace.
Samir Hussein, chairman of the human resources committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), said the move complements a number of other decisions aimed at boosting Saudization rates in small establishments. He said reducing working hours at shops will make the work environment more suitable for female employees, noting that the retail sector contributes to about 12 percent of the market.
Khaled Maimany, a member of the committee, said the decision to close shops at 9 p.m. would be beneficial to young Saudis as many could not work late hours due to their obligations. He said the decision would also help reduce electricity costs and work effort for employees.
“We need to take a look at local culture, which is different from that in other countries, and must take into account prayer times, as well as traffic congestion and other factors,” he explained.
In the opinion of another member of the committee on trade at the chamber reducing the shopping period in the evening by closing shops early will reduce business, as shoppers in the Kingdom usually visit shops during evening hours. He said women are often required to wait for their husbands or fathers to finish work in order to visit shops since they are not permitted to drive, and the fact that shops close down during prayer hours means that actual closing time will be well before 9 p.m.
As for the effect on employment, he said the majority of young Saudis seeking employment are not concerned about working hours. This is because working hours in the retail sector are mostly similar to those of doctors, nurses and people in the armed forces.
Mohammed Al-Shihri, head of JCCI’s committee on garments and fabrics, said working hours in the retail sector need to be re-evaluated in order to boost Saudization rates. He said the decision will face some difficulties initially but consumers eventually will get used to the new system.
“The decision will help Saudization numbers in stores as Saudi employees have some obligations to fulfill, especially women, and thus face difficulties in working long hours,” said Ahmed Basra, a member of the garments and fabrics committee.
Several consumers, however, questioned the decision, arguing that shopping during the evening hours is the only reasonable and relevant time for many working people with family obligations. “If we find it difficult to get shopping done during current working hours, what will be the case when working hours are reduced and shops close at 9 p.m.?” asked one shopper.