The Ministry of Social Affairs has started receiving requests from cooperative societies regarding the Ramadan basket, which cooperatives provide to shareholders annually, at symbolic prices, as the service is one of the types of marketing festivals, provided in line with governing observations.
The Director of the Cooperative Monitoring and Inspection Department at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Nawaf Al-Duwaisan, said during a television interview the ministry has prepared well for this year’s Ramadan festival, by issuing a circular through the union last December to submit requests at least one month before Ramadan. He added the requests then are presented to the ministry detailing materials that each basket will contain.
He indicated that the ministry evaluates whether the basket has the satisfaction of the shareholders or not, as well as its estimated value, as there must be a symbolic amount paid by the contributor, even if it is half a dinar or a quarter of a dinar or so, pointing out that there is “full follow-up” of this issue.
Regarding the reasons for the discrepancy in the prices of goods between some co-ops, Al-Duwaisan explained the financial control over prices is the responsibility of the Ministry of Commerce, more than the Social Affairs, pointing out that the Association of Cooperative Societies is concerned with unifying prices and selling foodstuffs at certain prices.