Car rental firms may soon be allowed to recruit foreign workers as drivers, mechanics, electricians and cleaners because of their inability to find Saudis for these jobs. However, the Ministry of Labor has ordered that car firms must reserve the jobs of cashiers and customer services for Saudis, according to sources quoted by Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Arabic newspaper. This comes in the wake of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry calling for a four percent Saudi worker quota for the car rental establishments, and for certain administrative jobs be given to citizens. Muhammad Ali Bin Hadi, Deputy Head of the Car Rental Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), said the ministry's nod would help the sector to develop further. Saeed Al-Basami, Deputy Chairman of the National Transport Committee, said the committee's recent meeting with Adel Fakieh, Minister of Labor, had helped to resolve the recruitment problems faced by companies in car rental industry. The committee was successful in explaining to the minister the obstacles hampering the progress of the sector. The minister showed great understanding of these obstacles including the insufficient number of Saudi heavy truck drivers, Al-Basami said.
