Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — A mechanical engineer, who has not been paid for six months, spoke to Saudi Gazette about his struggle to get an exit visa to leave the Kingdom for his home country. Faisal who works in Riyadh said his one-year contract is about to end, yet for all the 11 months he worked he has got only five months' salary. Faisal, an employee at Saudi Binladin Group, claimed he has looked for a job elsewhere but his company is refusing to give him a final exit or allow him to work for another employer. "My condition is getting complicated because my accommodation contract is ending and I have not been paid for six months now. In addition my housing allowance is included in my salary," Faisal said, adding that he will move to a friend's place soon if no development happens. "We have financial obligations toward our families plus how is it possible that I live without a salary." Faisal said some 1,200 employees work in his department and all have not been paid for varying periods. Faisal contacted Saudi Gazette seeking advice and assistance. "My contract finishes in one month and I have the right not to renew it; this is stated clearly in the contract yet they refuse me an exit visa," he said. Faisal is one of the many employees at Saudi Binladin Group who have not been paid for an average of five months. The company has struggled since last year after the crane incident in Makkah. However, lately the higher authorities have approved that the company resume work in government projects — a positive move that is being applauded by thousands of Saudi and non-Saudi employees. Employees still express their concern, on a Twitter hashtag particularly, that they had to spend Ramadan without salaries and are afraid that they will not get salaries before Eid. According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, the company has ended the service of some 69,000 workers, paid salaries to 10,000 and finalized the transfer of 10,000 to other companies.
