Many Saudis may be unaware that the cost of having a postal box has increased threefold. Prices to rent a box run from SR100 for a citizen up to SR3,000 for a large company. This is in addition to the recent hike in stamp prices.
Many no doubt are also unaware that the Kingdom’s postal services are of very low quality but necessity has forced them to put up with it for the simple reason that there is no alternative. Postal services were provided by the government and were naturally susceptible to the dangers inherent in being a government agency. Risks included economic fluctuations, internal inflexibility and government stoppages.
Those that excused the low standards of service in the past can no longer excuse the deteriorating quality of postal service. The former Department of Post has been transformed into a publicly owned company. This came about as part of the government’s restructuring program to improve the services.
The decision should make the company independent of the government and should allow citizens to hold it accountable.
Being independent of the government should save the postal services from the drawbacks government departments face. The link with the government often precludes accountability, assumes unwanted expenses and brings government burdens (such as excess staff) to such departments.
The change of the postal service into a company, however, does not excuse the price increases. The intent of the change was more accountability rather than increasing the burdens on those dependent upon the postal services.
New and complicated regulations have been passed that burden families and force individuals to rent boxes or accept price increases. Many times poor citizens have shared a mailbox for financial reasons but the new regulations forbid this for security reasons. The new company has also doubled the price of express mail without providing a guarantee of delivery.
It is not clear if the price increases have been approved by the Shoura Council or by the Council of Ministers.
It is also unclear if a study was made comparing mail prices in the Kingdom to those of other Arab countries. Had these measures had the support of the king, the costs would have been published and the price increases clearly justified — but to date, this has not happened.
Had the increases been for the purchase of expensive up-to-date equipment, why didn’t the company put things up for bids? Even if the increases are due to increased costs of labor, buildings or furniture, it is not fair to burden the citizens.
Postal services are an essential part of a country’s infrastructure. In many countries, they are subsidized in order to maintain low prices. Development ought not to take place at the expense of citizens. This is specially so if citizens are not involved in the price setting process.
I look for greater transparency in our institutions, for price increases must be considered next to social costs and at the highest level of governance.
