Badea Abu Al-Naja Saudi Gazette MAKKAH — Officials in the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) lauded the Council of Ministers' decision to nullify the SR2,400 levy on expatriate workers in small enterprises employing less than nine people. They said the decision will help more than 1.4 million expatriate workers in 815,000 small enterprises. The decision also applies to expatriates married to Saudi men and vice versa. They considered the decision to be a push for the private sector to widen horizons protecting workers in the Kingdom and encourage them to work with more diligence. Chairman of the Board of Directors of the MCCI Maher Saleh Jamal said the decision is in the interest of small Saudi enterprises. It is also considered a stance, which resulted in a positive reaction from the Ministry of Labor on the future of the private sector. He expressed gratitude to the Minister of Labor Adel Fakeih for responding to the request of the Saudi businessmen, especially the owners of small enterprises. Jamal confirmed that this step is the result of positive interaction between the Ministry of Labor and the private sector. He said it also confirms the ministry's understanding of the determinants of the labor market and its effects. This step confirms the concern of the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques about the requirements of the private sector with all its establishments, companies and workers. He said this decision will contribute to giving a push to and developing small enterprises in Saudi Arabia that need support to curb inflation. This will also reflect positively on the prosperity of the citizen and consumer. Secondly, it will have a positive effect on the development and flourishing of the national economy, especially since small enterprises form a big percentage compared to other firms in the Kingdom, according to a study by the Gulf Organization for Industrial Investment. The small and medium enterprises (SMEs) form about 93 percent of the total number of companies and employs 27 percent of the country's workforce. Jamal stressed the importance of reconsidering the SR2,400 levy for jobs that do not attract Saudis, because imposing this amount on such jobs will increase the cost of services and commodities. He said the SR2,400 fee causes an extra burden on the cost of services for the consumer and will increase the cost of operation projects.
