Over 500 lingerie shops shut down for noncompliance

Curtains have come down on 500 lingerie shops in the Kingdom for violating recent government orders mandating feminization and Saudization of businesses selling women’s undergarments and accessories.
“Field inspectors sent out by the Ministry of Labor discovered that 1,173 shops in the Kingdom were violating regulations governing lingerie business during the last Hijri year ending Nov. 3,” said Abdullah Abuthnain, undersecretary at the ministry.
Inspection teams ensured that such shops strictly adhere to stipulations to be followed during the first and second stages of the implementation of the feminization of the shops, he said, adding that during the first phase, the inspectors covered lingerie shops while the second phase will focus on shops for women’s trousers and abaya (gown) and other accessories.
He said the inspections were intensified after the expiration of the grace period.
“Makkah Province topped the list of violators with 310 shops operating in violation of regulations, followed by Riyadh with 279 shops, Eastern Province with 228 shops, the Northern Border Province with 205 shops, while Asir Province was at the bottom of the list with 151 violating shops,” Abuthnain said.
He said that during the inspection, 514 shops were shut down, 409 shops rectified their violations and 174 businesses stopped selling women’s clothing and accessories. “The ministry will continue inspecting lingerie shops and take deterrent steps till these shops fully implement the conditions laid down by the ministry,” Abuthnain said.
The stipulations for lingerie shops include that the workers should be Saudi women and the work environment should provide them total seclusion from male customers and workers besides ensuring the safety of the shops.
Abuthnain said the ministry is currently studying the feasibility of Saudizing and feminizing shops selling women’s footwear, jilbab and ready-to-wear clothes. “But this will be done only after consultations with businessmen,” he said.