Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — The Ministry of Labor has collected more than SR10.12 million in fines from businesses for various violations over the past nine months.

 

Deputy Minister of Labor Abdullah Abu Ethnain said the ministry’s inspectors made thousands of visits to companies, establishments and worksites in a bid to enforce its regulations. He said 62,762 violations were recorded during these visits.

 

The violations included 9,500 cases of employing expatriates without sponsoring them and 3,400 cases of negligence to prepare proper work environment for female workers in shops selling women’s accessories.

 

Some 2,200 violations were registered against firms that forced laborers to work outdoors under the hot sun during summer, ignoring instructions in this regard.

 

Abu Ethnain said 4,377 cases were transferred to the primary labor committees, while 7,681 cases were moved to the Ministry of Interior and 89 cases sent to the Saudization committee. The ministry has stopped providing its services to 18,773 violating companies.

 

Abu Ethnain stressed that the ministry would continue its crackdown campaign in all regions of the Kingdom and would be firm in punishing violators. 

 

The Ministry of Interior has specified the fines of SR50,000 to 100,000, in addition to other punishments for violating companies. The punishments include a ban on recruitment for one to five years, depending on the severity of the violation.