Saudi Gazette report MADINAH — For the second time, cleaning workers at King Fahd Hospital in Madinah have gone on strike after the contracting company failed to comply with their demands to increase their salaries. The level of cleanliness at the hospital was in a poor state following the strike. About 148 male cleaners and 66 female cleaners participated in the strike. Two inspectors from the labor office were seen at the cleaners' residence in trying to convince the workers to come back to work. A supervisor speaking to Al-Madinah daily said their salaries have been hiked from SR350 a month to SR550. The supervisor showed the deposit slips last month, which showed that their salaries have been adjusted. However, there were some differences in salaries as some workers received SR500 and others received SR900. He said, “The new contract signed includes monthly salaries of SR750 a month.” A number of workers denied what the supervisors said, claiming they have enough evidence to prove that their salaries have not increased and they are still receiving SR350 a month. Two of the workers showed an Al-Madinah reporter their pay slips from the bank proving they receive SR350 and not SR500, as the supervisor claimed. They pointed out that they went on strike because the company continued to break its promises to improve their situation. A worker, who did not want his name mentioned, said, “An official from the company promised us more than six months ago that their salaries would increase to SR500 a month but until now nothing has happened. Last Ramadan each one of us worked an additional 60 hours more and we received SR380.” Dr. Abdullah Al-Taifi, director of Health Affairs in Madinah, confirmed the workers went on strike because of salary increase demands. He said, “We contacted the contracting company and the Labor Ministry and governorate to discuss this issue. They told us that the problem was solved.” An official from the Labor Ministry told Al-Madinah they have sent two labor officials to negotiate with the workers to return to work. They agreed to go back to work under the circumstance that their situation would be fixed soon.
