Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Development Ahmed Al-Humaidan took part in the second day of inspection rounds to enforce the Saudization of telecom sector, track down violators and curb cover-up business in Riyadh on Tuesday. The inspection visits were backed up by security personnel and a group of officials from the ministries of interior, commerce and investment, municipal and rural affairs and communication and information technology. While visiting various telecom complexes in Riyadh, Al-Humaidan emphasized that collective raids would continue to cover various parts of the Kingdom to nationalize 50 percent of jobs in the sector. The vice minister met a number of salesmen and Saudi employees working in the sector. They commended the decisiveness of inspection rounds and the ministry's keenness to execute the directive as the deadline ended. The Saudi nationals showed their support to the ministry and confirmed their readiness to join the mobile phone industry by benefiting from employment opportunities and training programs that the ministry and its affiliates have provided. While visiting some cell phone sales and repair shops, the deputy minister urged employers and private establishments to stay true to the ministry's directive and start the employment process of Saudi nationals, benefiting from incentives and training programs. Al-Humaidan pointed out that the ministry and its affiliates have offered a range of training opportunities to put Saudi nationals on the job market in addition to supporting entrepreneurs with loans. Meanwhile, the inspection rounds tracked down many foreigners who worked for themselves and closed down cell phone shops that failed to enforce 50 percent Saudization. Furthermore, the inspectors saw shops that hung closed signs and pinned down several violations of residency and labor regulations, including illegally running business in disguise. The inspection campaigns go hand in hand with the ministerial decision to Saudize 50 percent jobs in all sales and maintenance shops for mobile phones and accessories in the ongoing first phase. The inspectors showed zero tolerance to impose penalties on violators while Saudi males and females engaged in the telecom sector expressed their relief for the ministry's seriousness in implementing the directive.
