Many public sector employees were absent from their workplaces and several others reported late to their offices on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan. Teams from the General Auditing Bureau which inspected public sector offices, however, said that the number of absentees and latecomers had decreased when compared to past years. An official at the Bureau said that the field teams will continue their task round the year. Special inspections are conducted during Ramadan and days prior to official holidays and action is taken against erring employees. No significant change was detected in Qassim's Buraidah on the first day of Ramadan. As roads were relatively quiet during Ramadan's first day, banks dealt with only a small number of clients. In Jizan, several senior officials noted that absenteeism was minimal this year. Citizens said their business transactions were dealt with as usual, without any trace of the lethargy largely associated with the first few days of fasting. Khaled Hadi, a Saudi, said he did not expect employees to be absent in the beginning of Ramadan. He said they might be absent during the month's last few days especially when some employees go to perform Umrah or spend the Eid with their parents and families.
