RIYADH: Ministry of Labor inspectors in Riyadh detected 340 violations against telecommunication complexes in Riyadh during inspection campaigns conducted this week.

The inspectors were accompanied by police and officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry during the raids.

Inspectors visited more than 752 establishments for mobile sales and maintenance during the campaign, in which they identified violations of the rules and regulations of the residency and visa laws, as well as irregular labor practices.

Mohammed Al-Isa of the ministry’s branch in Riyadh said the most significant violations identified during the inspections were those relating to Articles 38 and 39 of the Labor Law.

Article 1 of the law bans business owners from employing workers in professions other than those mentioned in their work visas, and bans workers from taking up jobs before taking the necessary procedures to change profession.

Article 2 bans owners from letting their employees work for other employers or starting his own business.

Al-Isa said that inspections aim to ensure that employers are committed to the ministry’s laws and regulations that organize the labor market and eliminate violating behaviors. The inspections are done to protect citizens and business owners from negative practices that destabilize the market.

The assistant undersecretary for inspections at the Ministry of Labor, Mohammad Al-Faleh, said the first phase of implementing the ministerial resolution which limits the activity in selling and maintaining communication devices and their affiliated products to Saudis, is a phase of educating businessmen. They have been given 90 days since the start of the implementation of the resolution. During this period the sector will be nationalized by 50 percent.

He added that the ministry puts all its human and financial efforts to follow up on the implementation of this decision. He added that the ministry has done this to find job opportunities for Saudis who wish to work in the communications sector, since it has substantial financial returns.

At a meeting, which was attended by the director of the inspection directorate in the Eastern Province, Sultan Al-Mutairi, and director of the EP branch, Omar Al-Omari, and his assistant Ahmad Alinizi, participants discussed limiting the sales and maintenance of mobile phones and their accessories to Saudis in addition to discussing the implementation of the nationalization decision.

The meeting also discussed inspection plans for mobile shops and joint cooperation between partners, as well as the punishment committee and its work mechanism. The meeting discussed the key obstacles the inspectors face and ways to overcome them.