JEDDAH — The Ministry of Labor has stopped a private company recently from recruiting expatriates, changing job descriptions or transferring services as it failed to pay wages for four months to 274 employees. The ministry also ordered the company to pay the salaries within 10 days.The ministry's Investigation and Environment Development Agency has received the complaints of employees of the company and called in representatives of the business to discuss the case. The labor officers discussed the issue with the owner of the company to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future. Ministry spokesman Tayseer Al-Mufaraj confirmed that the private company, which is operating in Riyadh and Madinah, has not paid 274 employees. After investigating the case the labor office noted the company was violating article 90 of the labor law. He said: “The case has been transferred to the summary commission for the reconciliation of labor disputes in Madinah. “Another follow-up has been sent to the governorate of Riyadh as the headquarters of the company is located there. “Legal procedures will be taken by the wage reconciliation committee in Riyadh. “The labor office has also obliged the company to correct its status and not commit such delays in paying wages again." Al-Mufaraj said any delay in paying the wages of workers is a violation of the labor law. According to him, the wage protection program in the private sector has reduced disputes between bosses and workers and helped the ministry to ensure salaries are paid on time for employees as well as providing a database for employers. The program, which has been activated for nine months now, is monitoring the salaries of Saudis and expatriates working for the private sector. The program also monitors the commitment of companies in paying wages on time and in full. It also aims to reduce disputes between workers and private sector companies. The first phase of this program targeted companies that employ 3,000 employees and above. Currently, the scheme is currently targeting companies with 240 workers and more and aims to monitor all private sector employees by 2016.
