The exit of illegal workers has seen plumbing and electrical repair services double, residents here say.
Operators, they say, are taking advantage of the situation, even for minor and routine work.
Ahmed Quraishi, a Riyadh resident, said he was shocked to see the cost of labor double. “We often need plumbers and electricians. But, the labor crisis has created chaos in the market and is becoming difficult to find cheap labor,” he said.
Another resident, Hamid, said he has not been able to find cheap and skilled electricians after the labor crackdown, which is troubling both the Saudis and the expatriates.
Several residents say they are now forced to hire expensive authorized service firms for their housing maintenance, mainly the electrical and plumbing works. The services offered by illegal workers were affordable. Routine repair work that cost SR50 before, done by roadside workers, now costs at least SR100.
“There have been several changes in the Kingdom recently. The prices of several commodities have increased, including labor charges,” complained Sami Mohammed, a Jeddah resident.
“I had to hire an electrician from a company to fix some wirings in my house, for which he charged SR200. Previously I only paid about SR100 maximum,” he said.
Mohammed Alharbi of Electronic Services Company said that all the service companies and shops have been hiring legal electricians and plumbers, who charge more for their services.
He however said removal of the illegal workers would help the economy in the long term.
Yasser Ghamdi, a Saudi economist, said: “Correcting the status of workers would help control the grey economy. It is important for the development of the Kingdom to have legal employers because it will help in drafting future business strategies.”
Plumbing, electrical work costs going up due to labor shortage
Plumbing, electrical work costs going up due to labor shortage
Pioneering electric bus service takes to the road in Makkah
- The bus rapid transit project, a system designed to have higher capacity and reliability than conventional bus services, is said to be the first of its kind in the Kingdom
- The vehicles operate in dedicated bus lanes within a network that includes two main bus stations and 11 stops along the route connecting them
MAKKAH: A pioneering electric bus service took to the road in Makkah this week.
Electromin, the developer and operator of the service in partnership with Umm Al-Qura for Development and Construction, said it is expected to serve more than 125 million passengers over the next 15 years, while cutting carbon dioxide emissions by more than 31,500 tonnes compared with traditional vehicles.
The bus rapid transit project, a system designed to have higher capacity and reliability than conventional bus services, is said to be one of the first of its kind in the Kingdom. It was inaugurated on Wednesday by Amr Al-Dabbagh, chairperson of Al-Dabbagh Group, Samir Nawar, managing director of Petromin, and Yasser Abu Ateeq, CEO of Umm Al-Qura.
Electromin, a subsidiary of Petromin specializing in energy and mobility solutions, said the new service, which forms part of the Masar Destination mixed-use real estate development project in Makkah, is one the first transport networks of its kind in the country, and represents a significant shift toward a cleaner, more efficient urban transport model.
It operates in dedicated bus lanes, connecting key hubs within Masar and providing safe, reliable and environmentally friendly transportation for residents and visitors, the company added. The network includes two main bus stations and 11 stops along the route connecting them. It has been designed to serve more than 5 million visitors and pilgrims annually, and to be easily accessible to all users.
Operators say the service is designed as a foundation for Makkah’s future transportation system, through its integration with the broader Masar project, which includes pedestrian walkways, more than 5,000 parking spaces, metro services and other urban infrastructure.
