Muhammad Sulaiman Al-Ehaidib
I HAVE written extensively about the suffering of Saudi taxi drivers and how non-Saudi drivers control the taxi sector, especially expatriate drivers who operate to and from airports. These expatriate drivers are able to monopolize airport passengers because they are well-connected with employees there.
On the other hand, expatriate drivers, who work and live in our country, are suffering from other problems. In this article, I would like to focus on their suffering and the problems they face during work. Every time I ride with an expatriate taxi driver, I make sure I ask him if he feels comfortable in his work.
Many of them have complained to me about young men and teenagers who refuse to pay after arriving at their destinations. These expatriate drivers are unable to do anything about this because they do not want to get into trouble. One of them explained it in another way—it was better to lose money than to lose one’s money and one’s teeth.
What struck me was that most passengers who do not pay are women. The taxi drivers said women refuse to pay and always say they do not have money. If the drivers insist on getting paid, they will risk getting in trouble because these women threaten to start screaming and claim the driver was trying to abuse them. One of the drivers said: “Saudi women are never doubted and whatever they say is taken as the absolute truth even if it is a complete lie.”
These expatriate drivers cannot complain because there are no mechanisms for doing so. What they are experiencing is not correct and we should not deprive them of their rights. They are patient and put up with these negative practices which some young Saudis engage in, but they should be treated fairly.
I remember the smart and witty reply of an Indian shopkeeper when a young Saudi shouted at him complaining about the expiry date on a cigarette packet. “The date on the packet is about to expire,” the Saudi said angrily. “What difference does it make?! Smoking is harmful to your health,” the Indian retorted. Stumped for a reply, the Saudi left the grocery shop without saying anything.
