Although the authorities long ago decided that all taxi drivers should be Saudi, many taxi companies continue to stall and maneuver in order to circumvent the law. The companies seem concerned only with making huge profits at the expense of the country’s citizens.
I don’t think that the reasons given by some taxi company owners to justify keeping Saudis out of these sectors are valid. The companies allege that there are not enough Saudis who are willing to work as taxi drivers. I cannot figure out how they know this. What I do know is that many young Saudis are willing to work as taxi drivers and have no objection to such jobs.
The regional labor offices must clarify the situation. If the sector is indeed in need of 50,000 drivers and the number of Saudis willing to work is less — as is said — this does not mean that we should continue depending on foreign drivers. This issue must be subjected to thorough discussion.
Some taxi companies say that Saudis are hesitant to deal with fellow Saudis as drivers because of a lack of trust, especially when it comes to transporting women and children. Again, this is a mere allegation and is not an excuse for not hiring Saudi drivers. If there are exceptional cases worthy of reservations, these should be addressed within the religious and legal framework.
What we do need is specialized training to educate and prepare Saudis to work as taxi drivers. Training should run for six months, after which graduates receive certificates that qualify them to work as taxi drivers. The experience of other countries, notably the United Kingdom, could help in this regard. The Manpower Development Fund might contribute also by providing nominal payments to trainees who would later be paid a basic monthly salary of at least SR3,000, with an annual raise to be determined based on the number of hours worked.
The alternative? Taxi firms will continue to stall and look for excuses not to implement Saudization laws. There are many businessmen willing to contribute to the development of the national economy by providing more employment opportunities for Saudis and who would settle for a reasonable profit. There are, however, some who would like to see the situation continue as it is as long as there are foreigners working for 24 hours a day with both their mouths and eyes tightly shut.
