Khaberni - The Hajj and Umrah companies announced a strike for the current Hajj season, and decided not to participate and accompany the pilgrims to the blessed lands this year.
The advisor to the Hajj and Umrah companies in the West Bank, Kazem Hassouna, told the Mada news agency bureau that the companies decided to strike and not to accompany the pilgrims of the Sacred House of Allah this year for several reasons related to the Ministry of Waqfs and the government not keeping their promises to the companies last year.
He added that one of the main reasons that forced the companies to strike this year is the government's insistence that each set of three buses, carrying more than 100 pilgrims, have only one or two administrators, while the companies demand raising this number to three in order to provide services that live up to the pilgrims of the Sacred House of Allah.
He continued, "If the purpose of this move by the government is to reduce costs for the pilgrims, then it should be done in other items other than the administrative staff of the company because it will significantly affect the services provided to the pilgrims."
He confirmed that the companies received promises from the Ministry of Waqfs to raise the percentage of administrators this year from 2% to 3% and that the ministry did not keep this promise.
He pointed out that the government raised the tax rate this year and reduced the company's share per pilgrim from 100 dinars and a tax of 5 dinars to 90 dinars and a tax of 20 dinars per pilgrim, which caused significant losses to the companies that cater to all the pilgrim's needs including food, drink, clothing, and services.
Hassouna confirmed that the companies will not accept losses this year and will not participate with the Ministry of Waqfs in this season, stressing that the success of the Hajj season must be a collective effort between the Ministry of Waqfs and the Hajj and Umrah companies.
For his part, Khalid Muteer, the head of the Hajj and Umrah companies, emphasized that the government's decision 15/2025 regarding the Hajj affairs system is the main reason for the problem and that the companies will not provide services to the pilgrims and will not participate in this season unless this decision is revoked.
He added that the decision of the companies will concern the pilgrims of the Sacred House of Allah from the West Bank and Gaza.
He also said that the companies are demanding to raise the percentage of administrators to 3% which equals three administrators for every hundred pilgrims, confirming that the administrators from the Hajj and Umrah companies and the Ministry of Waqfs accompany the pilgrims at the expense of the pilgrims of the Sacred House of Allah and that the Ministry of Waqfs should reduce its number of administrators if it wants to rationalize the expenditure.
