RIYADH: Shoura Council member Hamad Al-Hassoun admitted he violated rules while conducting commercial transactions but said some of his colleagues in the council were doing the same.
The Committee on Administration and Human Resources in the Shoura Council does not allow government employees to carry out commercial transactions.
The Shoura Council had rejected a proposal by member Ahmed Zayla'i to amend Article 13 of the legislation governing the civil service affairs but had agreed to study it. It is scheduled to discuss the issue after Eid Al-Adha. According to the civil service regulations, government employees are not allowed to engage in other businesses.
The regulation states: “The employee must refrain from engaging in trade, directly or indirectly; from establishing companies or accepting membership of a board of directors or carrying out any other business unless assigned by the government.
“The employees can, however, work in the private sector in their spare time in accordance with the regulations issued by the Council of Ministers.”
Al Zayla'i proposal presented a series of arguments. He said preventing public employees from taking up another job may result in their working clandestinely and this could affect the services they offer.
The commission, however, did not seem moved by his arguments and refused to amend Article 13, thus dashing many citizens’ hope to increase income and improve their living conditions.
This also forced them to do business secretly and some of them registered businesses in the names of their family members.
Shoura members ‘violating rules’
Shoura members ‘violating rules’
