RIYADH: A total of 14,062 establishments have showed compliance to the directive that aims to employ Saudi males and females in the telecom sector, a recent statistic showed in the second month of ongoing inspection campaigns.

As various ministries take part in implementing the 50-percent nationalization of the telecom sector, the Eastern Province registered the highest number of law-abiding establishments at 3,947 and was followed by Riyadh at 2,089.

Inspectors conducted 16,648 inspection visits to a wide range of shops selling mobile phones and accessories across all parts of the Kingdom during the intensive crackdown occurring from June 6 to July 17.

Dr. Fahad Al-Owaidi, deputy minister for inspection and development of work environment at Ministry of Labor and Social Development (MLSD), said the ministry would not lose momentum to carry out further clampdown to guarantee the full Saudization of the mobile business before Sept. 2 (Dhul Hijjah 1).

Inspectors reported the Eastern Province was highlighted with the largest share of establishments being visited at 4,390 while Riyadh recorded 2,395, Makkah at 2,020, Qassim with 1,766, Asir with 1,525 and Madinah with 1,255, added Al-Owaidi.

Al-Owaidi also said that the ministry strives to urge establishments to comply with the Saudization directive and conduct nationwide inspection rounds to ensure its enforcement as those who are reluctant to employ Saudi nationals in the telecom sector will face penal action.

Al-Owaidi confirmed in a statement that the recorded violations have stood so far at 2,503 where the Eastern Province hit the bar with 671 while the ministry transferred to the concerned committee 1,836 cases for penalizing offenders.

On another front, official inspectors and security personnel shut down 1,389 shops engaging in cellphone sales and maintenance, out of which 468 faced closures in Asir as well as another 667 shops were alerted with warning notice.

In cooperation with the Ministries of Labor and Social Development, Commerce and Investment, Municipal and Rural Affairs and Telecommunication and IT, have joined forces to implement the directive entering its full phase by Sept. 2.

Meanwhile, the ministry is keen to nationalize this vital and lucrative sector given its capability of generating stable job opportunities for Saudi nationals as well as protect the mobile business from security threats, maintaining social and encomia aspects.

Furthermore, the ministry called upon labor parties to report violations relating to the directive via the Rasd service (rasd.ma3an.gov.sa) as all tip-offs are handled with prompt manner to ensure the improvement of labor market.

Stakeholders can also notify the ministry about establishments and expat workers who violate the Saudization decision in the telecom sector through contacting the customer service no. 19911.

The ministry has endeavored to regulate the labor market in order to attract Saudi nationals to work in the private sector as well as facilitate setting up businesses that contributes to the national economy in line with Vision 2030.