Fatima Muhammad Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — The Ministry of labor has issued a new regulation to streamline the investigation process. The aim is to unify the investigation process and stop any illegal practices. It also aims at enhancing transparency and increasing the level of awareness among investigators and improving their skills. An investigator has the right to explain labor regulations to the company and introduce it to the ministry's guide. He also has the right to enter all establishments during working hours after providing official ID. Labor investigators have the right to look into all documents or any work-related files but they can't take copies of them to ensure that they abide by the Ministry of Labor guide regulations. They also can inquire about the wage payment process and ask for samples of used products for testing purposes. The inspectors can also examine the machines used by workers to ensure their safety. The labor guide gives investigators a right to question the owner of the place or his deputy in the presence of eyewitnesses to know more about the implementation of labor law. Further they can introduce the owner of the company to best practices which his/her company can implement to meet the labor law. If violations are established, the investigator can issue a verbal or a written warning. The investigators, however, have no right to enter the residences of employees or look into documents that are not work-related. They also have no right to look into the income of the company or its profits. They shall also not investigate the offices and belongings of employees or take their official IDs of the employees. Further they should not also report a violation after they close their files, and no male investigators should investigate female sections. Investigators should also not ask about the system and processes of the company and specifications of salaries and should not manually investigate workers or their belongings, and they shall not take photos inside the company or address visitors of the company. They should also not ban workers from using a phone or move around in the establishment. The labor guide obliges investigators to enter only from the company's main entrance and there should not be unplanned visits. An investigator should not go on his own on an inspection tour at any company, and all investigators should wear official uniform.
