Skyrocketing prices in the Eid [Archives:2006/913/Business & Economy]
Yemeni markets selling necessary consumer goods, especially foodstuffs, clothes and animals for sacrifice slaughtering have seen undeclared rise in prices which has caused annoyance and complaints by limited income citizens. Many citizens have put the blame for that exaggerated rise in prices on tradesmen and government concerned parties claiming they were behind what they have described as an undeclared dose of price rises. The public indicated that requirements for preparation for the Eid were difficult to buy by majority of the people whose purchasing power was law because of non-availability of job opportunities.
On its part the society for the protection of consumers asked the government to shoulder its responsibility for creation of an institution to undertake the responsibility of price and supply watching. The society also held the government responsible for rise in foodstuffs prices. Sources at the society have said there is no excuse for what the government has done n raising the prices except the absence of watching authorities under justification of the market openness on the one hand and greed of merchants on the other. The sources emphasized it had received many complaints from citizens in this regard. They indicated that there were contacts it was holding with the concerned sides in the government and the parliament, sarcastically considering that as a gift by the government offered to he people on the Eid al-Adha.
The citizens also accused the ministry of industry and trade of neglecting its duties in practicing its responsibility in watching prices and that it evades from that responsibility and protection of consumers.
Experts in affairs of the local market told Yemen Times, “What is happening is natural outcome for many reasons and factors. Main among those is that the government is not practicing its duty in watching especially as it has become certain that the parliament in unable to holding it accountable and oblige it to enforce the laws particularly in relation with living aspects of the citizens.”
The people have felt a wave of high prices that included clothes and requisites for the Eid and citizens have expressed their denunciation of this price situation that hinders them from shopping, deprives their children of the Eid joy and limits visits to their relatives and families in villages. Workers in markets selling used goods told Yemen Times they were unable to visit their families in villages because of their law income and incapability of buying clothes and Eid requirements for their children. They stressed that their financial condition would not allow them to secure their children's needs and therefore they have preferred to stay in the capital.
Prior to Eid al-Adha those markets have witnessed a noticeable drop in rate of job opportunities especially for those workers having no permanent jobs. The reasons were the state of stagnation that prevailed activities of real estate and contracts and receding of construction works after accusations directed to relevant parties of manipulating in projects of big tenders. The workers said that situation requires finding positive solutions by the government and concerned parties, confirming the situation gets worse at labor market. There work opportunities are dwindling despite of plans which the government claims to be ready for the implementation of big projects providing numerous job opportunities. They say the majority of them can hardly gain financial income enabling them to have means for maintaining living and staying alive.
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