Saudi Gazette report

IT is the right of every individual to make a living in whatever way he or she likes as long as no threat is posed to public life or the interests of the nation.

Economic desperation and an absence of financial safety nets have pushed many people into informal and sometimes illegal business activities. Such people very often turn to street vendor business due to little barriers and the low investment required.

Street vendors in general are considered illegal in the Kingdom and they often face arrest by the police or other law enforcement authorities. The problem is exacerbated by the presence of a large number of foreign residents who are unemployed or underemployed entering this sort of trading activities.

The presence of street vendors in random locations is a big headache to city authorities who struggle to present an attractive image not only to potential investors but to the residents as well.

However, most of the vendors in fact do not want to work in the streets, but tough economic circumstances have dragged them down to such levels.

In the absence of any sustainable solution, forcibly removing these people from the streets may be considered as insensitive to the already difficult circumstances they find themselves in.

Delving further deep into the issue, Al-Riyadh daily met with a number of officials, experts and observers for their views on the need to regulate the street vendor business after taking into account the interests of both the public and the vendors.

They said vendors who sell their wares in undesirable locations in the streets are of course public nuisance, but this emphasizes the need for local authorities to take viable steps to regulate the sector. The municipalities can formalize the activity by issuing licenses to the vendors or by setting up kiosks in ideal locations.

Sultan Al-Zayedi, director of the municipality office in Al-Khobar, said the city's inspectors make regular spot visits to areas where street vendors usually gather.

“We constantly raise public awareness about the dangers of buying goods from street vendors as a healthcare precaution. Sometimes these vendors pick spots that are contaminated by air pollution. Some food sellers do not even care about using clean utensils. The majority of the vendors are non-Saudis or violators of residency regulations,” Al-Zayedi said.

Despite repeated warnings and constant efforts by local officials to raise awareness on the dangers of buying from hawkers, many people prefer to buy their fruit and vegetables, among other goods, from street vendors because of the low price.

The formalization of the activity will result in many people enjoying better work conditions and a higher income, which will have a far-reaching impact on society at large, the experts say.

Local authorities have issued licenses to a number of young Saudis to operate food trucks. Municipality inspectors run inspection visits to ensure that the vendors follow the safety and hygiene regulations. More licenses will be issued soon to both men and women, Al-Zayedi said.

He also said the municipality's inspectors sympathetically treat Saudi women who operate food trucks considering their special humanitarian circumstances.

The problem of street vendors and informal trade is more or less a global one.

Muhammad Al-Osaimi, a columnist, said food trucks could be seen even in the most famous metropolitan cities like London, New York and Washington.

“I have seen food trucks near the White House. Over there, this type of business activity is more regulated because it is important and can help reduce unemployment,” he said.

Some families who operate food trucks in different cities of the Kingdom are totally dependent on them as these trucks are their main source of income, said Al-Osaimi. Therefore, the authorities should not halt issuing licenses to food trucks. Instead, they need to regulate this activity, he added.

In his opinion, municipal authorities have not taken several measures to regulate street vendors. Women, children and elderly men are seen selling random wares in the streets, especially near traffic signs.

In most countries the hawker problem usually is the consequence of other bigger problems such as political instability and the inability by the governments to create jobs. People are pushed into informal work out of desperation. However, in Saudi Arabia such compelling conditions do not exist, at least for the citizens.

Al-Osaimi pointed out that some expatriate vendors sell certain goods that might pose a serious threat to public health and could lead to disastrous consequences.

Some women are found visiting the Corniche seafront to sell their wares to make money.

Al-Osaimi says the municipality inspectors should not crack down on these vendors or take any drastic measures against them because they probably do not have any other source of income.

Municipality offices should regulate their business and set up kiosks for them and help them operate in a healthy environment to make a decent living, he added.

Sharifa Khamees, a woman vendor, says she makes a decent living from her business. She and her husband support four children.

Khamees sells hot drinks on the street-side. She hopes that the authorities would support her and regulate this business so that she could work without worrying about the pop-up visits by the municipality inspectors.

Dr. Abla Morshid, a columnist, is of the view that women and children who sell random stuff on the streets are damaging not only the country's landscape but also its image. "Besides, it is uncivilized action. Concerned authorities should regulate their business and make more inspection visits to ensure that these people are not selling any dangerous goods," he said.