More than 71 employees in the Northern Frontier Region have stopped working in protest over not being paid for about eight months by the contractor responsible for maintenance and cleaning at National Guard facilities in Al-Qurayyat, Tabuk and Yanbu. Salf Al-Jarid, Director of the Labor Office in Ar'ar, said he informed his ministry about this matter and sent copies of this report to the Emir of the Northern Frontier Region and the Assistant Undersecretary for Inspection at the Ministry of Labor. These actions, he said, will oblige the contractor to pay the employees within seven days. If the establishment does not pay the employees, their computer number at the Ministry of Labor will be stopped and it will be punished according to the ministerial decision No. 111, Al-Jarid said. A protesting employee said this was the second time workers have stopped work over delayed wages. He said company officials also indulge in exploitation and claimed that the company refused to renew his Iqama (residence permit). He had to pay for the renewal, the employee said. Some employees said they are looking for other jobs to meet their essential needs. One employee called on the Labor Office to urgently intervene and solve the long-running problem. He said the average salaries are between SR350 and SR650, from which the company deducts a significant amount to renew their Iqamas and cover expenses such as ticket fares, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the labor law.
