JEDDAH, 8 January 2003 — The Kingdom yesterday announced a new plan to fully Saudize jobs at taxi companies within two years.
It said the government would not provide license to open new taxi companies unless the companies sign an undertaking that they employ only Saudis.
The new plan was based on proposals made by a committee representing the ministries of interior, communications and labor and social affairs and the Manpower Council.
Higher authorities have endorsed the proposals, which were presented by Interior Minister Prince Naif, who is the chairman of the Manpower Council.
The new proposals came in the wake of an order by Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, last year to ban foreigners from driving taxis.
More than 90 percent of the Kingdom’s taxi drivers are now foreigners.
Unofficial estimates put the number of foreign taxi drivers in the Kingdom at more than 50,000, with the majority working in the main cities.
About seven million expatriates live and work in the Kingdom, which has a population of 22 million. Unofficial estimates put the unemployment rate among Saudi males at about 15 percent.
According to the new Saudization plan endorsed by the higher authorities on Jan. 3, no further recruitment of taxi drivers and transfer of iqamas or change of profession to work as taxi drivers will not be allowed.
Saudization of jobs at taxi companies that are already operational will be carried out in phases, with 30 percent of the jobs going to Saudis before the end of next April.
The number of Saudis should reach 50 percent by the end of next Hijrah year (2003) and 75 percent by the end of 1425H (2004).
Passport authorities will not renew the iqamas of foreign taxi drivers if their companies fail to follow the plan. A special panel will be set up to follow up the implementation of the new plan. The panel will set out new regulations for taxi companies.
