Former Saudi Oger workers complain of payment delays after September dismissal

Former Saudi Oger contract workers at the King Fahd Quran Printing Complex in Madinah have complained of not being paid their dues after being dismissed four months ago.

Saudi Gazette reports that the workers have approached the local labour office seeking its intervention after 1,300 were served termination notices in September.

Read: 1,300 Saudi Oger workers cut at Quran printing complex

Prior to this, workers at the complex were said to be struggling due to months of delays to salaries and allowances.

“We are badly in need of these financial dues after the company has ended our services,” former worker Abu Rakan told the publication.

Ali Gharamullah Al-Ghamdi, director general of the Labour and Social Development Ministry’s office in Madinah said the files of the terminated employee have been transferred to the labour dispute committee

“We have appointed a lawyer to follow and defend the case on behalf of employees,” he was quoted as saying.

He insisted they “did not need to worry” about their dues.

In August, Saudi Oger was said to owe $800m of unpaid allowances and end of service benefits, as well as dues to financial subcontractors and banks.

Read: Construction firm Saudi Oger faces huge debt restructuring

The company was hit particularly hard by delays to government payments last year, with thousands of workers complaining of being dismissed after not receiving their salaries for months.