The 2006 law banning men from working in female apparel and cosmetic stores has never been put into effect, partly due to hard-liners in the religious establishment who oppose the whole idea of women working where men and women congregate together, like malls.
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The Labor Ministry says that over 28,000 women have already applied for the sales jobs.
Saudi's Arabia's most senior cleric, Sheik Abdul-Aziz Al Sheikh, spoke out against the decision in a recent sermon, saying it contradicts Islamic law.
He argued that wrongdoing may occur when a woman stands face to face with a man and sells without embarrassment.
The country follows an ultraconservative interpretation of Islam called Wahhabism.