Unable to Saudize, hundreds of telecom firms close down

DAMMAM — A total of 800 telecommuncation establishments have closed down as they were unable to meet the Saudization requirement. A source said the Labor and Social Development Office recorded 41 violations of the Saudization decision following an inspection tour of several governorates in the Eastern Province. “A total of 1,982 establishments have adhered to the Saudization decision. The office visited 4,953 establishments in all. Only 2,023 of the visited establishments were running and 1,739 Saudis were employed in them,” said the source. The source said the inspection visits covered Hafr Al-Batin, Al-Khobar, Jubail, Abqaiq, Qatif, Al-Ahsa, Ras Tanourah and Dammam. Jazan Labor and Social Development Office Telecommunication Saudization Committee Head Mohammad Al-Laghbi said the committee ran more than 70 inspection visits over the past one month. “The committee recorded more than 50 violations. Illegal expatriates were handed over to the pertinent authorities. There are more than 83 jobs available for Saudis in the telecommunication sector in Jazan,” said Al-Laghbi. Mohammad Al-Sihaim said he was very happy about the Saudization of the telecommunication sector. “Saudis now have more employment opportunities and easily find jobs in the sector. However, there is a shortage in mobile repair services. There aren’t enough Saudis who are well-trained to offer mobile repair. This has led to several telecommunication shops reaching agreements with expatriate technicians who will work from home,” said Al-Sihaim.