Kingdom plans to Saudize retail sector

02 Dec 2012

(MENAFN) Saudi Ministry of Labor’s undersecretary, Fahd Al-Takhayfi, stated that the ministry plans to Saudize the country’s retail sector, mainly commercial centers and malls, reported Arab News.

Al-Takhayfi said that the move comes as part of the government’s efforts to create and find jobs for nationals, including women.

Al-Takhayfi, who insisted on business owners to enhance the work environment in commercial centers to better suit Saudi workingwomen, said that the retail sector in the Kingdom represents a rich source of jobs.

According to a study, the Kingdom’s retail sector, of which 70-80 percent of its workforce are expats, has an annual volume of USD53.32 billion with 242,000 licensed retail shops and commercial centers.

Food outlets dominate the sector, with a market share of USD14.39 billion.

Al-Takhayfi added that the project will be executed in 2 phases, in the first, the ministry will present the details of the project in a workshop in which public and private sectors in different provinces will participate.

Then, it would classify the markets and malls to be Saudized and where women can be employed.

In the second phase, the actual assignment of Saudis interested in such jobs will occur, noting that male and female officials would inspect shops and commercial centers in the first 6 months.

In the period, they will identify businesses that can hire Saudi workingwomen and prepare a database of all the establishments with vacancies available with them.