Fatima Muhammad
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — Some 33 workers have lodged two separate sets of complaint against their employer at the Ministry of Labor’s office in Al-Khobar.
A group of three workers is demanding salaries and passports with exit visas to go back to their home countries.
One of the workers, who joined the company in 2014 as a production and maintenance engineer, alleged that his employer started threatening him, so he along with two other colleagues left the company’s accommodation and lodged a complaint.
They are now waiting for hearing scheduled for Oct. 15. They are now living in a room rented for SR500.
Asked if they want to transfer their Iqamas (residence permits) to another sponsor, he said they prefer to go back to their home countries. The worker claimed that he did not get his August salary.
“Our employer has been abusing other workers, depriving them of salaries, and deducting wages without legitimate reasons,” alleged the worker. Another group of 30 workers have lodged a complaint against the same employer.
Among the complainants is a truck driver who — along with his colleagues — is demanding official interference to solve their dispute with their employer.
The 30 workers allegedly got salary deductions after they went for Umrah. The driver, who gets a monthly salary of SR1,200 according to documents, has been declared as “huroob” (run away) after he lodged complaint against his employer.
The driver demanded that he should be deported, but the company appealed and asked that the driver should refund all expenses spent on his recruitment and health insurance.
However, the labor office asked the employer to deport the driver at the expenses of the company. But the decision has not yet been implemented.
