Withholding salaries to land employers in soup

The Labor Ministry on Saturday warned private companies and employers that they would lose their workers if they did not pay their salaries on time. Unpaid workers would be allowed to look for new employers without the permission of their present sponsors. A senior official highlighted the measures taken by the ministry in favor of expats to legalize their status. “Expats are allowed to transfer their visas from red-zone firms to those in green and platinum without the sponsors’ permission,” the official said. He stressed that companies should not force an employee to work more than eight hours a day as per Article 98 of the Labor Law. “Those who are working more than eight hours (without extra payment) should inform the ministry,” he added. The official, who requested anonymity, said the issue of two-day weekend at the private sector is still being studied at the Shoura Council. “At present Friday is the only holiday in private companies,” he pointed out. Experts have pointed out that the two-day weekend would increase workers’ productivity, create more jobs for Saudis and encourage them to work in the private sector. “Expat workers need not get the approval of sponsors for iqama transfer if they have been listed as runaways or their iqamas or work permits have been expired or their sponsor had failed to issue iqamas and work permits within 90 days after their arrival in the Kingdom,” the official said. He said there are more than seven million guest workers belonging to over 100 nationalities while the number of jobless Saudis is estimated at two million. In addition, about 350,000 Saudi graduates enter the job market every year. Arab News