Saudi Gazette report RIYADH – The first phase of the Wage Protection Program, started on Sunday, and it is applicable to big companies with more than 3,000 staff. Under the program, these companies must register files related to their salary disbursement with the website of e-services at the Ministry of Labor from Sept. 1 this year. The basic objective of the program is to guarantee that the Saudi and non-Saudi employees working in the private sector get their full salaries on time. Minister of Labor Adel Fakeih launched the program on Dec. 24, 2012. According to the program, the ministry would oversee payment of wages by setting up an advanced database, consisting of details of disbursement of salaries by employers and fulfillment of their obligations on the basis of the provisions of the Labor Law as well as the labor contract signed with their employees. Ministry sources said that the new program aims at creating a better work environment as well as addressing the problems related to non-payment or delay in disbursement of salaries and allowances. The sources disclosed earlier that the ministry would apply the program in phases: First, in big companies, then all private companies and finally all workers in the labor market. The ministry's inspectors would make field tours to compel the companies to abide by the regulation.
