Saudi introduces new system to solve worker complaints

Saudi’s Ministry of Labour and Social Development has said it has put a new system in place designed to address the complaints of expatriate workers quickly.

This follows recent concerns for workers in the construction sector by their home countries after some were not paid for months.

Thousands of workers abandoned in Saudi won’t leave without pay

Saudi Gazette cited labour minister Mufrej Al-Haqbani as saying the ministry would provide legal representatives to present the case of workers in court.

“The ministry will defend the rights of expatriates and labourers and will not allow private establishments to get away shirking their responsibilities,” said Al-Haqbani.

He added that the courts were unbiased and would take action “irrespective of nationality”.
“The ministry also provides lawyers to follow up with cases such as delays in salaries. Expatriates are not obliged to pay any money for the lawyer.”

The minister was also quoted as saying that the kingdom would pay to return expatriates home and facilitate the transfer of workers between private companies.

The new measures appear to be a response to directives issued by Saudi’s King Salman earlier this month, designed to protect foreign workers and guarantee they are paid.

Read: Saudi’s King Salman issues new directives on unpaid salaries for foreign workers

Earlier this week, the Indian government told its workers who had been stranded in the country without pay that they had until September 25 to file their claims and return home.

Read: India urges stranded workers in Saudi to return by Sept 25

There were also reports that Saudi Binladin Group, one of two firms that employed the majority of the unpaid workers, would clear its dues by the end of September.

Read more: Saudi’s Binladin to clear all workers’ dues by September-end – report