RIYADH – As many as 609 mobile phone shops have been shut down and another 369 shops, which were found closed, were served with warning notice for violation of Saudization regulations. A total 1,471 violations have been uncovered during the raids carried out by inspectors from various ministries across the Kingdom during the first 13 days of the holy month of Ramadan, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. June 6 (Ramadan 1) was the deadline for implementing 50 percent of Saudization in all mobile sales outlets, as well as mobile maintenance and accessory shops all over the Kingdom. The inspections were being carried out by the officials from the Ministry of Commerce and Investment in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, and Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The inspectors registered largest number of violations (465) in the Eastern Province, and it was followed by Riyadh with 338 violations. It was found that a total of 5,226 shops have implemented Saudization regulations. Fahd Al-Owaidi, deputy minister of Labor and Social Development for inspections and development of work environment, said that a total of 6,480 inspection raids have been carried out across the Kingdom during the month of Ramadan. The Ministry of Labor and Social Development warned that those who fail to implement Saudization regulation in mobile phone sales and maintenance shops will be slapped with SR20,000 in fine for employing each foreign worker. The ministry urged all mobile shop owners to strictly implement the Saudization directive, issued by Minister of Labor Mufrej Al-Haqbani in March this year. The minister issued orders for the total Saudization of all sales outlets and maintenance shops of mobile phones and their accessories before Sept. 3 (Dhul Hijjah 1). All mobile sales and maintenance shops have to replace 50 percent of workers with Saudi men and women beginning from Ramadan 1. The ministry urged citizens and expatriates to inform the authorities about any violations through contacting uniform customer service number 19911 or sending messages to the link https://rasd.ma3an.gov.sa.
