Authorities in Saudi Arabia have settled a dispute over alleged non-payment of wages to 47 workers in the Eastern Province, according to local media.
The group of workers had filed a joint complaint against their employer for allegedly failing to pay their salaries for more than three months.
The workers are currently involved in the construction of a hospital in the Al Olaya region.
Citing Arabic daily Al Jazirah, Saudi Gazette reported that the local labour office had now resolved the dispute.
Al Olaya Labor Office director Abdullah Al Anzi said officials visited the hospital to assess the condition of the workers and issued the company with a final warning.
Al Anzi was quoted as saying: “The office immediately [took action], met with the officials of the company and gave them an ultimatum to pay the delayed salaries within 10 days or else the company will be punished.”
Delaying payment of salaries is a violation of labour laws in the kingdom. The country has introduced a new wage protection programme intended to protect workers’ rights.
At present, the new rules, which include timely payment of salaries, apply to companies and organisations with 80 workers or more, however the programme is expected to be rolled out more broadly in due course.
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