Violation of labor rules is taking place despite the Labor Ministry's efforts to educate the workers through the distribution of a booklet on labor laws. The Labor Ministry has also set up around 32 labor offices in various parts of the Kingdom for expatriate workers to lodge complaints. Ever worker has the right to free medical coverage, accommodation or its equivalent through housing allowance, no salary deduction for Iqama fee and vacation as stipulated in the employment contract. Duplication of employment contract after arriving in the Kingdom, lack of medical coverage, deduction of salary for Iqama and accommodation with no proper amenities are common complaints reported by workers. Murlidharan, president of Federation of Kerala Associations in Saudi Arabia (Fokasa), an umbrella organization for eight social groups, said many workers arriving in Saudi Arabia for the first time become victims of labor contract violations. Fazlul Karim, Bangladesh Ambassador, said the most common complaint by Bangladeshi workers included the duplication of employment contract and delayed salaries. Murlidharan cited the case of a group of seven Indian workers, who arrived just three months ago. This group of workers, which included Autocad operator, shuttering carpenter, tile fixer, air-ticketing clerks, was asked by the recruitment company to sign a new contract with low basic salaries. The company that first recruited the workers subcontracted them to work with another company, which itself is a violation of labor rule in Saudi Arabia. The workers were not provided with adequate accommodation and denied medical coverage and food allowance, as agreed in the employment contract before arriving here, he said. The Autocad operator recruited with a basic minimum salary of SR2,200 was relegated to work as office boy and his monthly salary was reduced to SR900. The shuttering carpenter was forced to work as cargo handler in a tour and travel company while tile fixer got frequent assignments to work in remote areas – not signed in the employment contract. He said one worker due to odd job was incapacitated with acute back pain and required hospitalization. The worker had to pay the medical bill because the company had no medical coverage for the employee. Another worker bowel infection and had to pay SR200 toward medical bill from his pocket. Murlidharan said he wrote a letter to the Indian Embassy requesting its intervention in the case. Five of the seven workers expressed their willingness to go back home, despite the fact that they had paid exorbitant amount of money for coming to Saudi Arabia. “We want to continue our employment but after the company rectifies the job contract and pays according to what had been agreed in the first employment contract,” said one worker requesting anonymity. Murlidharan said most of the workers coming to work in Saudi Arabia are not aware of the basic labor rights. Moreover, they signed employment contracts in Arabic language which they cannot understand. Upon arrival in Saudi Arabia they were asked to sign a new employment contract that mostly differs in terms and conditions from the original one signed in the home country. There are middlemen who mediate between the companies and the employees and try to hush up the dispute in case the workers raise their voice against any discrepancies of the employment contract. __
