JEDDAH: There has been little indication of Saudization at cellphone shops in Jeddah’s Palestine Street.
Citizens quoted by a local daily on Thursday claimed that there was a large contingent of expatriate workers in the area, in violation of the efforts to replace them with Saudis as stipulated by the government.
Ahmad Abdul Majid, a customer, said that he last visited the market around March when the Labor and Social Development Ministry had announced the plan to Saudize the cellphone sector.
“However, I was surprised to find foreign workers completely dominating the market,” he said, “I had thought I would find Saudi workers in these shops but things were still the same. Nothing has changed, expats are still dominating the market.”
Sami Al-Ghamdi said there was little sign of Saudi employees. “There is complete domination by expatriates while the ministry and other parties remain silent.” He said that nothing has been done to employ young Saudis despite the visits of the minister and his officials to the market.
A sales official at one shop said that the ministry was focused on big companies while ignoring small shops. The big companies have committed themselves to employing Saudis, he was quoted as saying.
Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, director of the media center at the ministry in Makkah, denied allegations that there was only a focus on large firms, and said raids would continue throughout the region. “More than 144 inspectors are on the ground in the telecommunications sector, and ensuring Saudization,” he said.
Citizens quoted by a local daily on Thursday claimed that there was a large contingent of expatriate workers in the area, in violation of the efforts to replace them with Saudis as stipulated by the government.
Ahmad Abdul Majid, a customer, said that he last visited the market around March when the Labor and Social Development Ministry had announced the plan to Saudize the cellphone sector.
“However, I was surprised to find foreign workers completely dominating the market,” he said, “I had thought I would find Saudi workers in these shops but things were still the same. Nothing has changed, expats are still dominating the market.”
Sami Al-Ghamdi said there was little sign of Saudi employees. “There is complete domination by expatriates while the ministry and other parties remain silent.” He said that nothing has been done to employ young Saudis despite the visits of the minister and his officials to the market.
A sales official at one shop said that the ministry was focused on big companies while ignoring small shops. The big companies have committed themselves to employing Saudis, he was quoted as saying.
Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, director of the media center at the ministry in Makkah, denied allegations that there was only a focus on large firms, and said raids would continue throughout the region. “More than 144 inspectors are on the ground in the telecommunications sector, and ensuring Saudization,” he said.
