Fatima Muhammad

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — Four years have passed since a group of Filipino workers — mainly nurses — went on strike over delayed payment of their salaries. But up till now they have not received their financial benefits totaling more than SR1.2 million from the hospital for which they worked despite a final verdict in their favor from the Ministry of Labor office.



In 2010, some 240 workers went on strike. But 120 of them settled their dispute with the owner of the hospital by agreeing to take less than 50% of their wages and the end-of-service benefits which they believed was better than “receiving nothing,” according to an official complaint submitted by the workers to the Higher Commission for the Settlement of Labor Disputes.



However, the remaining 120 workers refused to agree to any deductions in their wages and service awards. They contacted the Philippines consulate and the office of the Ministry of Labor in Jeddah to get their benefits which — they claim — range between SR50,000 and SR2,000.



All 120 workers filed individual cases against the hospital at the labor office. The representative of the hospital appealed against the decision of the primary authority issued in 2012. The higher authority of labor disputes settlement in Jeddah approved the initial decision issued by the primary authority with minor changes in 2014. It asked the hospital to settle the dues taking into consideration the delayed salaries and the end-of-service benefits. The total amount adds up to SR1,250,303.



The higher authority noted that this was a final decision and stated in official document seen by Saudi Gazette that, “the concerned authorities are requested to implement this decision using all means of law even by using force with the help of the police.”



A source at the Filipino consulate refused to comment on the case and asked Saudi Gazette to approach the Ministry of Labor.



Ibrahim Al-Ansari, owner of the hospital, assured that he will settle the dues within two months. But the workers are not ready to believe him, saying such false promises have been made in the past too.