JEDDAH: Ignorance and a lack of awareness about the rights and responsibilities as workers and employers are the causes of a rising number of labor disputes, according to lawyer Tariq Al-Ibrahim, who was speaking at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) yesterday.
“Why do you think labor disputes are increasing? Neither employees nor employers are fully aware of their rights and responsibilities toward each other. The labor law issued on Sept. 27, 2005, is brilliantly detailed, but very few people fully understand it,” said Al-Ibrahim.
He was speaking at a workshop, entitled “Employees’ Rights and Responsibilities,” which was organized by the Khadija bint Khuwailid Center at the JCCI to spread awareness among women employers and employees.
Al-Ibrahim began the session by stressing the importance of having official written work contracts between employers and employees. “According to the law, employees can claim their rights through witnesses, e-mails or written letters,” he said.
On the other hand, only written documents are accepted from employers who are considered the stronger of the two parties. If the contract did not include the probationary period, employers cannot hold employees responsible. A job offer or an announcement can also substitute for a contract.
“However, both parties must discuss and approve conditions mentioned in the contract when presenting the job offer. This way, each one of them knows exactly what to expect. When there’s a contract respected by both parties there is no room for problems,” said Al-Ibrahim.
The session included a detailed and comprehensive explanation of the different types of contracts, employees’ financial rights, duties and disciplinary rules, termination of contract and the end-of-service award.
Near the end of the session, Basma Al-Omair, director of the Khadija bint Khuwailid Center, shared with the audience a leaflet that the center produced in cooperation with The Law magazine on how to eliminate the dangers of appointing a male representative who has the power of attorney.
Businesswomen are required to appoint men representatives to act on their behalf in certain legal and financial matters. Due to cases in which the power of attorney has been abused, the center issued this easy-to-carry leaflet for women to refer to. The leaflet is available at the center free-of-charge and inside the November issue of the JCCI’s monthly magazine, The Trade.
