JEDDAH, 11 December 2007 — The Labor Office summoned the Saudi Geological Survey yesterday to appear in front of a preliminary committee for questioning regarding a lawsuit filed by more than 140 of its employees.
The employees complained that the commission that controls the organization has failed to provide housing allowances for the past seven years and only provided medical insurance in 2003. The employees are suing for compensation and to receive such benefits for the future, said Khaled Al-Harbi, one of the two lawyers representing the employees.
The compensation amount totals to nearly SR23 million but is expected to reach more than SR100 million depending on the outcome of the current complaint and how many more employees come forward to join the group lawsuit.
The lawyers contend that, according to the Saudi Geological Survey’s own regulations, such benefits are supposed to have been paid since the new rules went into effect in 2000.
“We are asking for what is rightfully ours under the law,” one of the employees who have filed the lawsuit said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.
The employees say that officials inside the organization keep telling them that the budget cannot cover these benefits.
“Year after year we hear promises but nothing has changed,” said the source.
Al-Harbi said that regardless of budgetary allocations, the rules clearly state that the employees have a right to these benefits.
“Since the bill issued seven years ago, my clients have received neither (the housing allowance nor the health insurance),” said the lawyer.
Al-Harbi added that no court date has been set and nothing will happen until after the Eid Al-Adha break.
