ALKHOBAR, 19 December 2001 — During this holiday season the city’s streets are filled with vehicles, many of them taxis. In a nation where women may not drive and public transportation is abysmal, taxis are essential. However, despite their importance, very little is being done to improve the lot of the drivers who keep this society moving.
Walking toward the Corniche to watch the Eid fireworks, many holiday-makers passed through an area of Alkhobar that was a study in contrasts.
On the Corniche side of one street sat an imposing villa, gaily floodlit, with stained glass windows ablaze. Opposite the villa squatted a dirty and dilapidated compound. The compound is called "home" by a group of taxi drivers serving the residents of Alkhobar.
For years the problems of the nation’s taxi drivers have frequently been reviewed but Arab News’ discussions with dozens of the city’s drivers show that nothing has changed. These men continue to work extremely long hours and many live in horrific conditions. Despite the difficulties of their existence, every driver was grateful to have a job and they were fatalistic in accepting the hardships that came with it.
"I work 13 to 15 hours each day," said Pakistani taxi driver Tariq Yusuf.
"The company takes SR130 from me daily, except Friday and I keep whatever else I earn. Each month I usually make SR1,500. I have to pay my own expenses like food, housing and gasoline, but I still manage to send home at least SR800 to my family monthly. I am very grateful to Allah to have this job. On the first day of Eid my sponsor let me keep all what I earned so this will be a very good month and my parents, brothers and sisters will be happy."
Drivers queue for fares outside Al-Rashid Mall and while they were waiting for their turn to come, a group of them spoke about their lives in the Kingdom. Each of the drivers in the Al-Rashid queue paid a minimum of SR125 daily to his sponsor. They were envious of drivers who worked for companies that provided monthly salaries.
"This is a good time of the year for us," said Mohammed Islam. "There are a lot of out of town visitors so we have many trips. On the first day of Eid I took many Bangladeshis out to the Causeway and back. It’s Eid and everybody is willing to spend a little money."
At other times of the year, life can be grim. Since the drivers have to pay their sponsors first, their own needs like food and medical care must wait. They have to pay all their iqama and visa fees too. If they don’t have valid papers they can’t work. Desperate situations can arise.
"We have to pay the fees on time and if we don’t have the money, then we have to borrow," said Mustafa Shakil. "Last year I couldn’t send my family any money for four months. My little daughter became ill and my wife had to borrow money to pay for the medicine. I was very worried but I worked every day, all day, and Allah helped us. I know the streets in the city now and can make trips quickly. God willing, this year will be better."
When the drivers were asked what they thought about the squalid compound in Alkhobar, they all said that they wished they lived there. They explained that at least those drivers always have a place to lay their heads at night and a salary to send home to their families at the end of the month.
The Ministry of Labor has been trying to get Saudis to take up jobs as taxi drivers but the terrible working conditions put forward by the taxi companies ensure that there will be a high turnover rate amongst local manpower.
Until recently, Saudi national Mamdouh Al-Shammary was employed by a local taxi company. He worked 10 hours, six days a week for a monthly salary of SR1,500. With his wife and small child, he lived in a furnished studio apartment. Before the Eid holidays and school vacations, his wife would pack up their meager belongings and Al-Shammary would take her and the child to stay with relatives. When the holiday season was over and the rates dropped, they could afford to live in the furnished flat once again.
"I was not happy being a taxi driver, but at least we could eat," said Al-Shammary.
"I hoped that with time I would find something better. But disaster struck my family when my wife became pregnant. She was very ill and I had to take her to the hospital every week. Finally she miscarried. I was trying to take care of her and do my job and I just couldn’t manage everything."
Al-Shammary had to pay for most of his wife’s medical expenses from his own pocket, borrowing from friends when his salary ran out.
He missed many days of work as his family problems compounded. Eventually the taxi company fired him stating that they could no longer bear the cost of having a vehicle frequently off the streets due to his absences. The family is living with relatives while Al-Shammary looks for work.
During Eid it is important to remember the less fortunate in our midst and make a commitment to find ways so that all members of our society are treated with decency.
