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Inspectors crackdown on retailers found violating Saudization norms

Expats restricted from working in shops selling household appliances and electrical and electronic goods
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JEDDAH - The decades-long domination of shops selling electrical and electronic devices by expatriates is coming to an end amid intensified inspections across the Kingdom to ensure the implementation of Saudization in the sector.

The authorities are zooming on the western region of Saudi Arabia, which is the largest market for electronic and electrical goods in the country.

The sale of electronic items in the region is high compared with other parts of the Kingdom as many pilgrims opt to buy electronic items during their journey to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

Expats are restricted from working in shops selling household appliances and electrical and electronic goods as well as 11 other sectors.

On the first day after the rule came into force, the Ministry of Labor and Social Development carried out 246 inspections in Makkah and recorded cases against 60 outlets for violating norms for recruiting Saudi citizens in sales jobs, according to ministry officials.

Inspection campaigns have been intensified in other regions.

Souk Junoobia in Al-Balad district of Jeddah, the largest electrical items wholesale market in the Kingdom, has become almost standstill. The business in the market used to be dominated by a section of expatriates.

The Baladia Street near to Madinah Road and King Fahd Road, also one of the biggest retail electrical item markets in the city with hundreds of shops, are also facing difficulties, as most of the sales personnel were expatriates.

The retail shops in downtown Balad, Sharafiah, Aziziah, Bawadi, Jamia and other districts of the city have downed their shutters as most of them were able to comply with the mandatory Saudization of sales jobs.

Some prominent retailers have been selling their products on huge discounts. A giant retail outlet in the field has announced a weeklong promotion with attractive offers with thousands of people thronging the shop to grab the items of their choice at discounted rates.

Large supermarkets and other stores that have electrical and electronics divisions have employed a significant number of Saudi youths including women in sales jobs.

Meanwhile, the Labor Ministry office in the southern province of Najran discussed problems faced by labor inspectors in the field and ways to overcome them. They also discussed weekly plans to inspect commercial activities that are to be Saudized.

The inspection teams from the ministry inspected a number of shops selling electrical and electronic items, sunglasses and watches. They registered at least six cases against shops in the city for violating the Saudization norms.

© Copyright 2018 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

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