RIYADH – The Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC) has submitted a letter of appeal to King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, requesting the postponement of the Ministry of Labor decision which makes it mandatory for private companies with a majority of foreign staff to pay SR2,400 a year for each expatriate worker. The Labor Ministry said last month it will impose a monthly fee of SR200 for every foreign worker if the employer's workforce comprised less nationals than foreigners. Addressing a meeting of the CSC board members here Tuesday, Abdullah Saeed Al-Mubti, Chairman of the CSC board of directors, said that a number of steps have been taken by the Council including a request for a meeting with the Labor Minister and a submission to the King an appeal for the postponement of the decision until a thorough investigation is conducted by the CSC. The purpose of the investigation is to estimate the unwanted economic consequences of the decision on the private sector and to submit a report on remarks made at local chambers of commerce and industry on this subject, he said. The exorbitant increase in work permit fee was the main focus of the CSC meeting which was attended by more than 50 local chambers of commerce and industry leaders besides the board members. The majority view was that government
