Mobile phone shops to be Saudized in six months

Minister of Labor Mufrej Al-Haqbani issued orders on Tuesday for the total Saudization of all sales outlets and maintenance shops of mobile phones and their accessories within a period of six months.

According to the new directive, the mobile shops will start implementing Saudization from March 10 (Jamad Al-Thani 1). All mobile sales and maintenance shops have to replace 50 percent of expat workers with Saudi men and women within three months, beginning from June 6 (Ramadan 1) and 100 percent within six months, starting from Sept. 3 (Dhul Hijjah 1), the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Al-Haqbani said the new decision will be implemented in cooperation with the ministries of commerce and industry, municipal and rural affairs, and communications and information technology.

The ministry said that Saudization of mobile phone outlets will be implemented in all the regions and cities of the Kingdom without any exception and it will be applicable to all sizes of shops.

Young Saudi men and women will be provided training in taking up jobs in mobile sales and maintenance during the grace period, the ministry said.