RIYADH — The labor courts have settled as many as 42,000 labor cases in a year, Makkah daily said on Wednesday quoting the Justice Ministry. The courts, which were established last year, held more than 170,000 sessions and were able to finalize every case in a maximum time span of 23 days. Justice Minister Walid Mohammed Al-Samaani opened seven such courts in Riyadh, Makkah, Jeddah, Abha, Dammam, Buraidah and Madinah. This is in addition to 27 labor circuits in various courts in the Kingdom and 9 labor circuits in six courts of appeal. The minister said the establishment of the labor courts was within the Kingdom's keenness to promote the sector of investment and business and make the labor environment attractive and safe. "The courts were aimed at ensuring workers with justice and safeguarding their rights while at the same time promoting investment and business sector," he said. Al-Samaani said the functioning of the courts is totally digital and that they have been supplied with qualified and specialized judges. According to the court procedures, if a cordial settlement between the worker and the employer is not reached within 21 days, then the ministry of labor and social development will electronically take the dispute to the court.
