I am writing with regard to the article "Is the war against tasattur failing?" (Feb. 21). The author of the article writes: "Expatriate workers continue to flout Saudi laws by engaging in tasattur, something that makes them and the Saudis who help them susceptible to being fined and penalized if caught." However, the question is: Are nationals helping expats, or simply helping themselves to expats' hard-earned money. Put the blame where the blame belongs. The mentality of irresponsibility reflected in the above statement is simply stunning. Whatdidisay?, Online response
Everybody knows that almost all small shops and businesses operate on the basis of tasattur, that is, they are illegally run by expats registered under the names of Saudis in return for a fixed amount of money. The authorities should have shut down these businesses long ago if they had really been serious about stopping tasattur. What will happen if all the bakalas, electrical shops, barber shops, restaurants and other such shops are shut down? Where will people go for their everyday needs? Malayalee, Online response Government officials have said and done nothing about tasattur for more than 40 years and now Saudis and expatriates are working together in at least 90 percent of the retail sector. So how are the authorities going to tackle tasattur now? The government should take the right decision and allow a 49 percent-51 percent partnership system and a different type of iqama (residence permit) for expatriates like the system used in the UAE where this type of activity is absolutely legal. Ahtasham Imtiyaz, Online response
