I am writing with regard to the article “Makkah's street cleaners live on SR8 a day, says NSHR” (Jan. 16). Saudi Arabia is in general a very good place to work. The low salaries and terrible working conditions reported in the article degrade those who work in the Kingdom. The government should take the necessary action to eliminate such things which only result in tarnishing the reputation of the country. The authorities should renew the rules and regulations governing contractors and the issuing of contracts. Saudi Arabia is famous for its holy places. If workers are suffering in such places, then this is an insult to Islam. Raj, Online response II. It is a shame that some people can force others to work for such low salaries and at the same time force them to live in cramped conditions like cockroaches in a box. I have known some of these workers to live off of a Pepsi and a few cookies a day. The National Society for Human Rights needs to take stern and immediate action. People should be ashamed of themselves. Jason, Online response III. Can someone ask the Minister of Labor if these low-paid workers can be counted as 1/2 or 1/3 of a foreign employee since the ministry says a Saudi getting SR1,500 and a Saudi getting SR 3,000 cannot be equal, and that Nitaqat counts a Saudi as only half an employee if his salary is less than SR3,000? Does this formula apply to these poor and hapless street cleaners? Zia, Online response
