The Ministry of Labor has delayed for another three years its decision to replace non-Saudi taxi drivers with Saudis. The question here is why in the first place did the ministry set a deadline for the Saudization of this job knowing very well that any such hasty move would plunge the country into a difficult situation?
According to ministry figures, there are 47,000 taxis in the Kingdom while the total number of Saudi drivers working with private companies running the sector is only 518. Based on these figures, enforcing the Saudization decision means more than 46,000 taxis would be out of service. Not only that, a representative of taxi operators at the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry has said that going ahead with this particular Saudization plan would cost the country economic losses of more than SR1 billion monthly.
If the ministry is aware of these facts and of the repercussions that could accompany such a move, why did it press ahead with the Saudization campaign in the first place? Was it because it was under some pressure even though it knew that proceeding could harm both citizens and the owners of taxi companies?
The question that demands an answer is why the ministry pressed ahead with the decision. Was it because it wanted to prove that when put to the real test, the decision will fail to give the desired results?
It all has to do with a lack of proper planning.
