Wednesday 16 May 2012
Sales of retail sector are predicted to hit SR 250 billion in the current year due to the growth of small and medium enterprises (SME) in Saudi local market, according to experts.
Expatriates, who are occupying some 700,000 jobs, are predominantly controlling the sector, a matter that has disrupted the Saudization process, the experts said.
In this context, the experts stressed the need for eradication of commercial coverage where, according to Ministry of Commerce data, it accounts for 43 percent in contracting sector, 19 percent in consumers sector, 16 percent in general trading, 8 percent in foodstuffs, and 15.8 percent in the remaining sectors.
Commercial coverage refers to business activities practiced by foreign workers under the name of their Saudi sponsors.
Control of foreign workers on retail sector poses major disruption to the national economy and leads to negative economic impact including illegal money transfers and creation of unfair competition with Saudi manpower, an expert, Naif Al-Eid said.
On his part, retailer Muhammad Al-Inizi said Saudis working in this sector are facing a fierce war against expatriates who are practicing illegal methods to keep the Saudis away from the sector.
He called for creation of regulatory measures to eliminate presence of foreign workers in the retail sector who are controlling more than 700,000 jobs that will remain an abortive factor for the Saudization process in the country.
He also appreciated the Ministry of Labor's recent step on terms and conditions of employing Saudi women in factories and abolition of any discrimination in salaries between male and female workers.
© Arab News 2012
