1,864 shops shut down over telecom sector Saudization

RIYADH: In a move to replace 50 percent of expat workers with Saudi nationals in the telecom sector, inspectors have shut down 1,864 establishments with Makkah earning the largest share of closures with 508, followed by Asir with 499 and Eastern Province with 203.
According to latest statistics released by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development (MLSD), Madinah, Qassim and Riyadh came next with 195, 165 and 84, respectively, with Najran being the lowest in the number of closed establishments due to violations recorded.
The Ministries of Interior, Labor and Social Development, Commerce and Investment, Municipal and Rural Affairs and Communication and IT have collectively urged employers to comply with the Saudization directive and hire Saudis in the mobile phone sector.
In the aftermath of nationwide inspection campaigns, a total of 883 shops selling mobile phones and accessories have been warned of permanent closure if they continue to ignore the ministry’s regulation to employ Saudi salespersons and maintenance professionals.
Dr. Fahad Al-Owaidi, deputy minister for inspection and development of work environment at MLSD, said the first phase of nationalizing telecom jobs is drawing to a close, calling upon reluctant establishments to promptly implement the directive and allow Saudi nationals to prove their potentials in the sector.
The private establishments that abide by the directive would contribute to the reduction of cover-up business and provision of suitable job opportunities for Saudi males and females, Al-Owaidi added.
Meanwhile, the ministry reiterated that inspections would not lose momentum to track down violators until the whole telecom sector is nationalized before Sept. 2, urging customers to report violations by visiting the website at www.rasd.ma3an.gov.sa or contacting the uniform customer service No. 19911.
The ministry assured that all reports will be handled promptly as the ministry is keen to improve and develop the labor market.
The number of establishments visited by inspectors has reached 24,227 occurring from June 6 to August 13 in all regions of the Kingdom, with 20,841 establishments showing compliance to the directive.
To date, 2,412 out of 3,295 violations have been forwarded to the penalties committee as the directive gives no exceptions for any telecom establishment to opt out whether they are mega, large, medium or small sized.