JEDDAH — The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has begun forcing retailers to end the widespread practice of giving chewing gum or cheap candy instead of returning change in coins to shoppers, Al-Madinah newspaper reported. The ministry has coordinated with the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) to increase the production of coins so consumers are not forced to settle for accepting gum instead of the exact amount of change owed to them. The new policy was welcomed by citizens and expatriates alike. Citizen Abdulrazzaq Al-Subaie said most stores force customers to accept chewing gum instead of change by claiming that coins are not available. Mukhtar Khalifah, manager of Danube Supermarkets in Riyadh, said his chain always faces a shortage of coins as banks do not provide them with enough. He said the decision to force banks to provide sufficient quantities of coins is good news for retailers. Talat Hafiz, the secretary-general of the Banking Information and Awareness committee, commended the ministry decision. “SAMA has notified banks to make available metal coins and to meet their clients' needs. Saudi banks in turn are eager to abide by the ministry's orders,” he said.
