MC inspection teams have carried out 2,385 inspection tours in all regions of the Kingdom during the period (27-29 December 2020) to verify the commitment of the commercial establishments and outlets to provide E-Payment Systems "Mada" for consumers.
The results of the inspection tours showed an increase in the percentage of commercial establishments ’commitment to providing E-Payment Systems to consumers after the period specified for the compulsory implementation of such systems. Meanwhile, 683 instant violation notices were released against the non-compliant establishments that were included in the tours.
This comes as an implementation of the decision of the National Program for Combating the Commercial Concealment, which stipulates obliging the commercial establishments and outlets to provide E-Payment Systems, in coordination and cooperation among the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and the Saudi Central Bank "SAMA".
MC inspection teams are ready to impose instant financial penalties on the establishments that are not committed to the said regulations in a cumulative manner, since the penalty is doubled, when repeating the violation for the second time.
The implementation of E-Payment Systems at the sales outlets contributes to supporting the efforts of the concerned authorities to enable the consumers of using these methods in all sales outlets, and to reduce the circulation of cash.
This decision also comes in line with the procedures and precautionary measures recommended by the competent health authorities for combating Covid-19, and for the safety of citizens and residents.
It is worth mentioning that the National Program for Combating the Commercial Concealment had already begun with the gradual obligation for providing the E-Payment Systems at all retail sector activities in all regions of the Kingdom.