Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development emphasized that it will ensure that there is no gender discrimination in terms of pay scales of male and female employees working in the private sector.

This is among a series of decisions announced by the ministry on Monday with regard to unifying the work environment in the private sector to keep pace with developments in the Saudi job market.

“It is forbidden for an employer in the private sector to discriminate between workers on the basis of gender, age, or disability with regard to working conditions while hiring them.

The employer is prohibited from exercising any sort of pressure on the freedom of the worker, including instructions for wearing an appropriate dress and also forcing him or her to perform tasks not agreed upon in the contract,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry affirmed that the employer has no right to exploit his workers to carry out tasks or go out with an appearance that provokes public opinion. “Every employer must announce the uniform of his workers in a manner that does not contradict the provisions of the Islamic Shariah.

It is forbidden for an employer to impose behavior or conduct on a worker that does not comply with public decorum,” the ministry statement added.