Certified Monitor Rewards Conditions: Mandatory Training and Relative Ban
The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing in Saudi Arabia, through its digital platform "Baladi," announced seven strict and updated criteria for eligibility for financial rewards allocated to those reporting municipal violations, within the framework of the "Certified Monitor" initiative. This regulatory step aims to enhance the efficiency of community oversight and ensure the accuracy of reports that contribute to improving the urban landscape in Saudi cities.
Eligibility requirements and mandatory training
The ministry has established precise criteria for awarding the reward, most importantly that the report directly and effectively leads to the detection and substantiation of a genuine violation. In a move aimed at raising public awareness of regulations, the ministry stipulated that the reporter must complete accredited training specifically designed for community monitors to ensure their thorough understanding of municipal bylaws and regulations, thereby reducing false reports and increasing the effectiveness of monitoring.
Integrity and prevention of conflicts of interest
To ensure the highest levels of transparency and integrity, the new regulations prohibit the awarding of bonuses to any employee working in the ministry or its affiliated secretariats and municipalities, as well as employees of inspection and auditing companies contracted by the municipal sector. This prohibition extends beyond employees to include their immediate family members, thus preventing any potential conflict of interest or abuse of official position.
The context of Vision 2030 and improving the urban landscape
This initiative is perfectly aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, specifically within the Quality of Life Program, which aims to enhance services in Saudi cities. Addressing visual pollution and improving the urban landscape are among the key pillars that the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has been working intensively on in recent years. By engaging the community in the oversight process, responsibility shifts from being solely governmental to a shared responsibility, where citizens and residents become active partners in preserving the city's beauty and cleanliness.
Disbursement mechanism and ensuring no duplication
The regulations also emphasized the integrity of the whistleblower's record, stipulating that it must be free of any previous malicious or fabricated reports. The ministry further stressed that the reported violation must not have been fabricated for financial gain, nor had it been previously detected by other entities or monitors, to ensure that the same violation is not reported multiple times. The reward is disbursed after a formal request is submitted within the specified timeframe, and after the violation becomes final upon the expiration of the violator's legal objection period.
These measures reflect the government’s orientation towards digital transformation and good governance, as the “Baladi” application contributes to facilitating monitoring and processing operations, which enhances the attractiveness of Saudi cities as an investment and tourism environment free of visual pollution.
