Saudi billionaire flees without paying 300 workers for one yearJEDDAH – The Ministry of Labor is in the “final stages” of producing regulations to oversee the work of the National Labor Committee, the body set up to study salary payment delays by employers, said Nidal Redwan, the committee's chairman. Redwan was reported as saying in Al-Sharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday, that the draft regulations are being discussed by a group of international and local experts at the ministry. He said employers are not allowed to delay the payment of their workers' salaries unless their companies are bankrupt. He said the Ministry of Labor should produce legislation to prevent employers from delaying salary payments, which should include depriving violating companies of ministry concessions. “I need not mention that those who do not pay their workers should be looked upon as thieves who steal other people's money.” Redwan said the committee drew on International Labor Organization (ILO) rules and legislation to draw up the committee's draft rules. He said the committee oversees the election of labor representatives at big companies. It already has 26 committees at private sector companies. He said the workers at these companies are eligible to run for positions on these committees. Meanwhile, a Saudi billionaire has fled the country without paying the salaries of 300 workers of varying nationalities, for almost one year, sections of the Arabic media reported on Tuesday. The billionaire sold a housing complex for SR700 million and then left the country for London. Emad Al-Amoudi, one of the workers, said they were not paid for more than 11 months and the businessman did not renew their iqamas, despite raising the issue with the labor authorities. He claimed the billionaire was treated leniently by the authorities. The workers said the labor office did not appear to have the power to act against the errant businessman. Al-Amoudi said the General Organization for Retirement which bought the complex sent a letter to the workers saying that it would pay the salaries, in the form of a loan payable by the company. However, the workers have not been paid yet. Al-Amoudi said three expatriate workers, whose relatives had died, could not travel because they did not have proper documentation and money. The businessman could not be reached for comment, but his lawyer apologized on his behalf.
