JEDDAH, 28 April 2003 — Production at the two biscuit factories of the Badra company here has been halted for the third time in three years. Some 170 Arab and Asian employees stopped working to protest non-payment of their salaries for a period of seven to eight months.
The workers gathered at the main labor office in the Makkah region, demanding official intervention to solve the problem and force the company to pay their salaries as quickly as possible.
Company officials did not respond to Arab News’ request for information. A labor office official, however, said the financial committee in charge of salaries had directed the company to pay the workers about a month and a half ago but the company had failed to do so.
The workers said they had resigned because of non-payment of their salaries, adding that they were waiting for their salaries and other benefits. The labor office said it stood firmly behind the workers and urged the company to pay them and provide them with housing and health insurance in accordance with Saudi regulations.
The official said the case had been transferred to Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal ibn Majed to take necessary action.
Employees of the two factories first stopped work in August 2000 when the company had failed to pay their salaries for 13 months. At that time, the company’s production manager said a market depression resulting from the closure of schools during the holidays had caused the delay in salary payments.
The Saudi authorities later set up a committee to look into the workers’ complaints. The committee, consisting of representatives from the governorate, the labor office and the Passports Department, ruled that the company should pay three months’ salaries to the workers immediately.
Despite being left largely to their own devices, the workers followed the correct legal channels in filing a complaint at the labor office. It ordered the owner of the company to pay outstanding back pay in full, fined him SR4,000, and recorded his violation with the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The employer, however, simply disappeared.
Many workers were denied their annual leave, which in many instances meant they had been separated from their loved ones for several years. They have endured constant power cuts in the substandard accommodation provided by the company. They have not received medical benefits.
According to an earlier report, salary arrears and end-of-service benefits still outstanding for those employees who left the Kingdom on exit visas exceed SR3 million.
The two factories owned by the Badra company produce biscuits and confectioneries, rusks and chocolates. The company has eight production units and 16 packing machines in 12 branches throughout the Kingdom.
