There is a general feeling among workers in jobs involving high risk or danger that they are not being properly paid. Some of the workers complain of the disparities in determining risk allowance while others claim that some employers are denying them of their rights. Such workers include lab technicians; workers at high-tension electricity towers, rescue and fire extinguishing teams; and teachers employed in remote regions. They are demanding concerned authorities to give them proper risk allowances and increase their salaries so as to improve their living conditions, according to a report in Al-Riyadh Arabic daily. Aliya Fareed, a rights activist, says that risk allowance is an important issue involving the basic rights of workers. “This issue is harmonious with the principles of Shariah (Islamic law) as well as with that of the local and international human rights conventions and agreements that call for ensuring the safety of individuals,” she said. Ibrahim Al-Johaiman, assistant undersecretary at the Ministry of Civil Service, said job allowance involves any amount of money that is given to the employee with a specific objective, on top of his regular salary. In remarks made at a seminar held in Riyadh earlier, he said that these objectives include enforcing parity and equality among all employees in addition to giving them an incentive. For example, a doctor working in a remote region lacking essential facilities and services will get an allowance that is not given to his counterparts working in the city. A risk allowance will be distributed among workers so they may have equality with similar employees working at administrative offices. This is aimed at giving them an incentive to continue serving the citizens. Al-Hojaiman noted that the Civil Service Law stresses the significance of giving such an allowance. Although there are several landmark national and international agreements that emphasize the significance of giving workers various allowances, especially risk allowance, workers complain that they have not been paid any such allowances. There are also cases in which employers have stopped distributing the allowance for various reasons. Muhammad, a technician at a laboratory of the Ministry of Health (MoH) in the Eastern Province, said: “Our work at the laboratory is risky and we don't know the reason to stop paying us risk allowance. We are dealing with various tests of stool, urine and blood for which we use syringes and pieces of glass. We handle some dangerous samples like blood infected with hepatitis B, the virus of which is an easily spreading one, and tuberculosis, which spreads through blood and breathing. “There were technicians who used to receive risk allowance for nearly 18 years. But the authorities have stopped it for a few days,” he said, adding that all the employees were happy with a risk allowance of SR750. He also demanded the fixation of risk allowance for employees in risky jobs. “The allowance must be fixed in line with the intensity of risk. For these, there should be specific and just criteria,” he said, noting that those dealing with mental and tuberculosis patients should not be considered equal with those dealing with ordinary patients. Muhammad also drew attention to the allowances' disparities. “Those who handle poisons get a risk allowance equal to 40 percent of their salary. However, technicians dealing with similar cases get a maximum eight percent allowance.” Fareed underlined the need for ensuring safety of workers by creating an environment through reducing chances of risk or dangers. She also called for the classification of risk allowance. “The allowance must be distributed on the basis of this classification. Those who work in an environment (where they are exposed to) imminent danger are different from those who face no risk at their workplaces,” she said. Fareed stressed the need for enacting laws to ensure safety of employees against possible workplace risks. “The concerned authorities such as the ministries, including the Ministry of Civil Service, and the private sector should introduce safety criteria and ensure a risk-free environment at the workplace. There should also be a mechanism to monitor this.” Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Modairis, director general of education in the Eastern Province, said that the education department is not giving any risk allowance but only allowance for working in remote regions.
