Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Fifty workers — Asian nationals that are mainly technicians and basic workers — have decided to go on strike after their company stopped paying their salaries for up to seven months. The workers even went to the office of the Ministry of Labor to complain against their employer and the delay in salaries but for four months now the stalemate persists. One of the employees has claimed "that they have not yet reached an agreement with their company whose representative is only giving ‘promises'." Saudi Gazette has received all the documents of the case showing that the workers have not been paid their salaries, which adds up to a hefty sum until April 2016. Official papers show that the workers showed up at the office of Labor Ministry and registered their complaints while the officials called up the representative twice during this period. Muhammad Farooq, one of the workers, said that his problem is acute and is suffering more than his colleagues. "Since I requested for an exit visa after I was not paid my salary for couple of months, my problem began. Now I don't have my iqama and my exit visa has expired. I have worked for the company for 6 years and we have been patient whenever salaries were delayed, but this time it is taking forever," Farooq said. Farooq added that their condition is terrible since they are now taking loans from their relatives and friends. "Our families back home are left with nothing, and what we get here from our sponsor is only promises but nothing has happened for months now." The company employing these workers is facing problems since it is in the red category and many of its workers have struggled to be paid for long. However, workers said that the company used to delay salaries for the maximum of three months, but this time the period has stretched to seven months. "This is not bearable," said Farooq. The office of the Ministry of Labor noted the workers are trying to compromise. But the company's representative has provided them with a clear cut answer in the matter. "We have contacted the ministry on the Internet several times but have received no reply," said Farooq.
