Fatima Muhammad

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — A Canadian woman has told Saudi Gazette of her frustration in obtaining six months’ outstanding wages from her employers.



The woman, who spoke anonymously, has been employed for a year and a half now and her employer is a subcontracting company who hired her as a teacher previously in Hail and later moved her to Jeddah. However, for six months now she has not been receiving her wages.



She was hired on a salary of around SR10,000 and promised health insurance and tickets as well as housing allowance. The woman described her case as “going in circles”.



She explained that she has been asked to sign documents in Arabic but refused to do so until her dispute is settled.



She later contacted a lawyer who said he could help her transfer her iqama (residence permit) and get her benefits.



The woman, who recently converted to Islam, is now staying at a friend's home and said she feels “hopeless”.



She is looking for her case to be resolved soon so she can start all over again in a new job.



Despite the fact other companies have offered her work, her previous employer is insisting on “forcing her out of the country.”



She said she has been deprived of all her labor rights, including health insurance and housing.



She hopes that the company “does not get away with such violations” and added they should not think that since they brought her to the country, “they own her”.



Her lawyer Basim Al-Harbi said that they attended a hearing on Monday and he demanded that his client get her delayed wages, end of service benefits and compensation for emotional distress.



He said the company's representatives did not agree and, therefore, another hearing will take place on Thursday.



A representative from the company told Saudi Gazette that they were trying to reach an agreement and will attend the next hearing to try and resolve the issue.