JEDDAH: Many workshops that have been shut down in the Al-Nuzha industrial area have not yet been provided with alternative space, leading to protests by the owners of these business establishments.
The Jeddah municipality was supposed to rehabilitate these workshops in the Usfan industrial area, but has failed to do so, local media reported on Sunday, quoting sources.
Yousef Al-Mutairi, one of the affected parties, was quoted as saying that the municipality closed down the workshops but failed to redress their grievance. “The owners were told to go to the branch airport municipality to solve their problem. But officials there told them that they were supposed to execute only the closure order.”
He said 327 workshops will be handed over in the first phase, while the second batch will be distributed in three months and the third allotment will take another three months.
“Why were businesses shut in the Al-Nuzha area with immediate effect ? Why should we accept losses and stop working until the alternative location is ready?” he asked.
Khaled Al-Zahrani said the terms and conditions in the contract are tough. The yearly amount of SR7,000 just for cleaning and security is too high.
He alleged that the municipality uses pressure tactics on the workshop owners by closing their businesses without offering alternatives. “They force the owners to transfer and sign contracts with the investment company. How can we sign contracts for places we haven’t seen personally?” he asked.
Abdulrahman Sadeeq said most workshop owners in Nuzha have lost their source of income because of they were not provided with alternative areas. “Some canceled their activities, while others rented traditional yards and moved their tools and equipment there,” he said.
A Jeddah municipality spokesman said the civic body first issued a statement in newspapers about moving the workshops from Nuzha to Usfan. “It was clearly stated that whoever desires to move to the new area can do so and contracts were signed and the handing over of the new premises gone through.”
The Jeddah municipality was supposed to rehabilitate these workshops in the Usfan industrial area, but has failed to do so, local media reported on Sunday, quoting sources.
Yousef Al-Mutairi, one of the affected parties, was quoted as saying that the municipality closed down the workshops but failed to redress their grievance. “The owners were told to go to the branch airport municipality to solve their problem. But officials there told them that they were supposed to execute only the closure order.”
He said 327 workshops will be handed over in the first phase, while the second batch will be distributed in three months and the third allotment will take another three months.
“Why were businesses shut in the Al-Nuzha area with immediate effect ? Why should we accept losses and stop working until the alternative location is ready?” he asked.
Khaled Al-Zahrani said the terms and conditions in the contract are tough. The yearly amount of SR7,000 just for cleaning and security is too high.
He alleged that the municipality uses pressure tactics on the workshop owners by closing their businesses without offering alternatives. “They force the owners to transfer and sign contracts with the investment company. How can we sign contracts for places we haven’t seen personally?” he asked.
Abdulrahman Sadeeq said most workshop owners in Nuzha have lost their source of income because of they were not provided with alternative areas. “Some canceled their activities, while others rented traditional yards and moved their tools and equipment there,” he said.
A Jeddah municipality spokesman said the civic body first issued a statement in newspapers about moving the workshops from Nuzha to Usfan. “It was clearly stated that whoever desires to move to the new area can do so and contracts were signed and the handing over of the new premises gone through.”
