Saudi Gazette report

MAKKAH — There is no truth to social media reports that shops that have four out of 12 jobs nationalized have been closed down due to the exit of expatriate workers, the Council of Saudi Chambers said.

Mansour Al-Shithri, chairman of the committee on labor market at the council, said all of these shops were operating regularly with Saudi men and women workers.

“The trading activities in these shops were not affected by the decision to Saudize jobs,” the Makkah newspaper quoted Al-Shithri as saying.

Shithri said the photos circulated in social media showing shops to be empty of customers were taken when they were closed for prayer or after the working hours.

“The photos were not taken during the normal working hours,” he added.

Shithri said following the decision to nationalize 12 activities in the retail and wholesale shops, the chambers of commerce and all the other concerned bodies started training Saudi cadres to occupy these jobs.

He said the committee visited the shop in central Jeddah that was shown to be without customers in social media photos and discovered that those photos were taken while the shop was closed for prayer.

Shithri said the decision to Saudize 12 activities in the retail and wholesale shops was aimed at providing more work opportunities for Saudi men and women.

The four sectors that have so far been nationalized included car and motorbike showrooms, shops selling ready-made garments for men and children, shops for home and office furniture and shops for household appliances.