Police disperse workers protesting salary delay

MAKKAH — Security forces in Makkah were able to peacefully disperse a sit-in organized by hundreds of workers of Saudi Binladin Group in protest against delayed salaries. The workers had assembled in front of their housing camp in Um Al-Kidad neighborhood in west Makkah. The workers said they were not paid their monthly salaries for many months though the group had earlier announced that it had received its outstanding dues from the Finance Ministry which would enable it pay the delayed salaries of its employees A few months ago Saudi Binladin issued a statement announcing that it had already started paying the employees their delayed wages. A source at the labor office in Makkah confirmed the protest and said the director of the company was summoned and made to sign a commitment that all salary dues would be cleared immediately.