JEDDAH, 25 January 2008 — The Ministry of Social Affairs plans to privatize some of its facilities and services, including rehabilitation and training centers, daycare centers and reformatories for boys and girls. According to a report in Al-Watan Arabic daily, the ministry will play a supervisory role in managing the facilities after privatization.
A company will be given the contract to operate these services, an informed source said, adding that the ministry was currently looking for qualified people to support the company in providing the services.
“Through the program, the ministry aims to improve social services and reduce the financial burden on the government,” the source said. At present the ministry runs 32 rehabilitation and social centers, daycare centers, four nurseries, 13 reformatories and four women’s shelters.
In a related development, Minister of Social Affairs Abdul Mohsen Al-Akkas said the newly formed Association for the Protection of Consumers would not have any role in controlling market prices. “The role of this private society will be limited to enlightening the public on market mechanisms,” the minister said. The Council of Ministers last Monday approved the formation of the society.
“There was the need for an organization to enlighten consumers in order for them to enter the market with thorough knowledge of market mechanisms,” Al-Akkas told Al-Watan.
Asked whether the group would play any role in controlling prices of essential commodities, Al-Akkas said: “The prices will be determined by market forces.”
The general law, he added, prevents violation of market mechanisms, monopolies and services and hoarding of goods with the intention of increasing prices.
“There is a government body called the Consumer Protection Authority, which will implement regulations related to protection of consumers. On the other hand, the Association for Consumer Protection, being a private body, will try to enlighten the public on how to spend their money in the right manner,” he explained.
