Riyadh :The veil did not prevent Saudi women from working as cashiers in many supermarkets and even enjoying what they are doing. Many of them, who work for Al Aziziyh Panda Mall, a chain of supermarkets in the kingdom, are very happy to be dealing with the customers.
"I feel I am in the right job whenever I see the look of satisfaction on the customer's face," one of them told Gulf News. She did not want to be identified.
She said the happiness and satisfaction expressed by customers made them stick more cohesively to the jobs. "People encourage us because we are earning our living," another female cashier said. She also did not want her name to be published.
The Panda supermarket started employing women cashiers from last June. Their number has increased tremendously since then. The woman cashiers said they work in two shifts from 9am to 5pm and from 3 to 8pm. "We are getting a monthly payment of 2,400 Saudi riyals (Dh2,348) which will automatically increase after the three-month probationary period," they said.
They, however, noted that they were not being provided with transport though the shifts of some of them might extend late into the night.One cashier said she only completed intermediate school. "The company did not ask for any level of education beyond that," she said, expressing happiness that she was qualified for the job even though she had no advanced education beyond the intermediate level.
The cashiers have become role models for other working women. "Naturally women work in all fields as long as they earn their living from legitimate jobs," one of them said.
The women cashiers are also happy to hear encourage words from customers. They denied that they were subjected to sexual harassment "although this is normal for any working women," one of them said.
The profession of a cashier was not usually the favourite for women who always prefer to be teachers, doctors, nurses and businesswomen. With the increasing rate of unemployment, women in Saudi Arabia are willing to take up any job as long as it is honest.
