Expat fees expected to make school transport costlier

The decision of the Ministry of Labor to raise foreign labor fees to SR 2,400 a year as part of the Nitaqat program has already affected school and university transportation fares. Transport companies have raised their fees up to 60 percent, a local newspaper reported.
Abu Adel, owner of a transportation firm, said the Nitaqat program, along with the ministry's decision, has caused problems for his firm. "When starting the process to transfer the ownership of a number of cars, the official told me that I should employ Saudis, without giving me enough time to sort out the problem of finding Saudi drivers," he said.
He pointed out that the decision will prompt his firm, as well as others, to raise the prices of contracts to be signed with schools and universities. "These in turn will increase the fare that parents pay, which will result in problems at all levels."