dengue fever team members in Makkah have stopped working because they say their company has not raised their salaries for three years now and has not responded to their demands. Col. Abdul Mohsin Al-Maiman, spokesman for Makkah Police, said four workers have been questioned and they will be referred to the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution for further investigation. He said authorities are coordinating with the company to provide the workers with what they need. The workers said they submitted their demands to the company three years ago. They wanted the company to raise their salary to SR3,000 because that was the amount they received before the company was sold to its new owners. The company, under its new management, reduced salaries for technicians and supervisors to SR1,750 and for drivers to SR1,400, the workers said. The company, they also said, did not give them any risk allowance, although they deal with dangerous chemical substances and insecticides to kill mosquitoes carrying dengue fever. The workers demanded the same benefits workers in other regions get. Although they submitted complaints to different authorities, they said they have not received any response. However, Director of the Program Rashad Saud Ashour said the demands of the workers were sent to the concerned department of the company. “The company seeks to provide these workers with all their needs,” he said. He added that he has taken away the keys of the workers' vehicles because of their refusal to work.
