Citizens here have called on the Ministry of Labor to crack down on expatriate workers they say are running cover-up businesses at one of the oldest markets in the region.

The public market, known as a haberdashery or scrap market, is about 50 years old, with shops selling heritage items, old furniture, home appliances and electrical devices.

A Saudi salesman at the market claimed that foreign workers have forced their way into the market. “When they see a vehicle loaded with goods entering the market they buy up the shipment and then sell the goods at double the price.”

He said 47 of the 51 shops inside the market have been taken over by foreign workers for a monthly rental of SR5,000 each from Saudi owners. They said this was illegal behavior.

Another operator in the market, Mufleh Meshhan Alrashidi, called on the ministry to intervene and ensure that there was proper Saudization of jobs.

“Saudi workers at the market do not have jobs. Their work inside the market is their only source of income,” he said.

Suleiman Abdullah, who owns a shop in the market, said there has been no attempt to identify the goods sold at the market or the sellers. This situation allows people to sell stolen goods, he said.

He said the courtyard of the market is a mess of random shacks and stalls.

Meanwhile, the Labor Ministry has confirmed it recently visited 49 facilities and uncovered 20 violations.