This Decision will be Gradually Implemented on all Business Activities
The National Program for Combating the Commercial Concealment announces that all selling outlets will be obliged gradually to use the electronic payment system in their trade activities. This will give the consumer the choice to use different means of payment, in addition to the cash payment. This is part of the program's initiative, under the title "Obliging the shops and outlets to provide electronic payment system."
The aforementioned program will start implementing this initiative gradually from 11.11.1440, Corresponding to 14.07.2019, in coordination and cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and Investment, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency. So all gas stations and their relative service centers will be obliged to provide e-payment systems. This decision will be fully implemented on all trade activities on 06.01.1442, corresponding to 25.08.2020.
The National Program for Combating the Commercial Concealment, chaired by His Excellency the Minister of Commerce and Investment, Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al Qassabi, highlights the importance of defining and specifying the roles of the participating parties in this initiative, so that to ensure the implementation of this decision, through setting a time plan of six stages, to obligate all selling outlets to provide electronic payment systems, in a gradual manner for all sectors.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce and Investment will monitor the provision and use of electronic payment systems at the selling outlets. MCI will receive the consumers' reports and complaints in case the service is not available or the owners refrain to allow or enable the consumers to use such service. In case of non-adherence of the regulations, then stern measures and penalties will be imposed on the violators.
The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs is responsible for following up the commitment and adherence to this decision by the grocery, catering shops and other facilities that are under its supervision and control, especially during the approval of the applications for new licenses.
Notably, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs announced, more than three months ago, that the owners of the fuel stations, and their relevant services, should provide e-payment systems "Mada", by giving them a deadline ending on 11.11.1440 AH, in case of non-adherence, the necessary penalties will be imposed against the stations in violation.
These procedures go in line with recommendations and directives of the Supreme Royal Order, relevant to combating the commercial concealment, and the necessity to consolidate the efforts among various government sectors. Therefore, the National Program for Combating the Commercial Concealment has been established, aiming at regulating the financial transactions to eliminate the illegal remittance of funds, under the commercial concealment.
It is worth mentioning that the participants in the National Program for Combating the Commercial Concealment continue to work together, consolidate the efforts and coordinate among each other for the implementation of the program's recommendations. Each authority will carry out the tasks assigned to it, taking into consideration the fulfillment of the program's objectives. Evaluation and assessment shall be done for every concerned authority during all implementation stages of the program. .