Social Affairs: New Regulations for Kiosks and Booths in Cooperatives Expected Soon

Faisal Matar: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor is moving to issue a new regulation to govern the operation of kiosks and booths within the central markets of cooperative societies, paving the way for issuing the necessary licenses to conduct their activities. A senior source told Al-Qabas that the anticipated regulation will define the minimum and maximum allowable areas for exploitation based on the size of each market, as well as the rental value for each site. The source clarified that the maximum total area allocated for kiosks is expected to reach 48 square meters, with each kiosk occupying 12 square meters, while the total area for booths is expected to be capped at 20 square meters, with each booth measuring 4 square meters.

The source added that the regulation will cover basic activities within cooperative markets, including butcheries, fish markets, bakeries, mills, pastry shops, confectioneries, and pastries, alongside service activities such as key cutting, watch repair, traditional foods, mobile phones and accessories, flowers, and plants. He further noted that the allocation of kiosks and booths will follow the procedure used for awarding contracts for invested cooperative branches, through sealed bid submissions, with the contract awarded to the highest bidder.

Investment opportunities are expected to include services for membership renewals and subscriptions, telecommunications services, and the display and sale of local, handicraft, handmade, and agricultural products, in addition to awareness, education, advertising, and marketing activities.

On another front, the practical implementation of the project to standardize car park canopies in cooperative societies has begun, in accordance with Cabinet directives and instructions from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. Implementation initially started in one of the societies in the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate, which has begun executing the project. Cooperative societies are now taking the necessary steps to obtain financial and engineering approvals, in line with a circular issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and the unified guideline for car park canopies in public facilities, aimed at enhancing urban character and achieving visual harmony in public infrastructure. Execution in other societies will follow sequentially once the required approvals are completed. The instructions mandate that executive bodies in the societies replace car park canopies in accordance with approved engineering and technical specifications, and adhere to the unified guideline when carrying out the works.