A YEAR ago, the human resources committee in the Shoura Council recommended that government servants be granted a housing allowance that is equal to three months' salary. The majority of Saudi employees do not own their homes. Recently published statistics revealed that only 38 percent of Saudis have their own houses. In most cases, it is unlikely for government sectors to grant their employees housing though there are a few institutions such as public universities, armed forces and others that provide staff quarters. Prices have increased everywhere by at least 50 percent and this is in addition to the rising cost of electricity and phone utilities. Citizens are also paying more for government services at the traffic and passport departments. Thus, citizens are patiently waiting for the government to approve housing allowances for all government employees so that they can fulfill some of their daily needs. I hope that the Shoura Council will review the recommendations and approve the requested three-month housing allowance for government employees without delay. This will help more Saudis own a house through the Real Estate Development Fund. Government employees can pay the fund their mortgages simply by linking their housing allowances directly to their bank accounts. This will help in paying off housing loans, lessening the long waiting times for citizens, some of whom have been waiting for over 15 years just to get a loan.
