JEDDAH, 16 November 2002 — The Haj Ministry has fired a number of employees for exploiting their authority and negligence in providing services to pilgrims, according to Dr. Mohammed Saleh Bantan, deputy minister for Umrah affairs.
“The ministry has terminated the services of a number of employees. Some of them were appointed under Article 105 of the law while others were contracted for Umrah service,” he told Arab News. Bantan did not disclose the number of fired employees.
His ministry had also issued warning notices to some of its officials. He pointed out that some of the fired employees were absent from duty for a long period. The fired employees were recruited to work at King Abdul Aziz Airport, Jeddah Islamic Port and field committees in Makkah and Jeddah to monitor services. The ministry appoints about 3,300 employees under Article 105 during the Haj season.
