Shimaisi Development Project closed down Al-Shimaisi Expressway between Makkah and Jeddah Monday to protest over the three-month delay of their salaries by a big company. One of the engineers was quoted by Asharq Arabic daily as saying that protesters arrived at 7 A.M., closed the gate of the project and would not allow any trucks to enter or leave the site. The engineer, who requested anonymity, said that the workers were frustrated with the company. “The workers have asked the company several times to pay them their delayed salaries but the company kept putting them off by blaming some procedures,” the engineer said. “The workers also protested over salary delays a year ago,” he added. Salem Al-Ahmadi, one of the workers, said the police arrived at the scene, with a representative from Makkah Emirate and a senior official of the company. “If the company knew the difficulties we face to get here, it wouldn't delay our salaries. Some workers drive 70 kilometers every day to get to work. All we want is to get paid on time,” Al-Ahmadi said. The newspaper said it failed to get a comment from the company despite repeated attempts to contact a senior official.
