The Saudi government is reported to be “seriously considering” enforcing earlier store closure to 9:00 pm for the retail sector, with official legislation expected to be announced before end-2016, Riyadh newspaper quoted sources at the workshop organised by the Ministry of Labour earlier this week as saying. The Ministry of Labour has advised representatives of the retail sector on the importance of strategising on how they would adapt to the new working hours, in anticipation of the official announcement, the sources added. New legislation is currently being drafted by the Cabinet of Ministers, while the Minister of Trade was quoted earlier in the year as saying that the legislation is still under study. In January 2016, the regulation was noted to include some exceptions such as restaurants, pharmacies and grocery retailers with licences to operate 24 hours a day. The decision is part of the Saudi government’s plan to bolster Saudisation through more attractive working conditions. (Argaam)