JEDDAH: Employees of the municipality’s dengue-abatement program have threatened to stop working unless the civic authorities pay them for the work they have done.
Municipality officials had promised to solve the problem and meet their demands by Saturday. However, some employees who spoke to the local press under the condition of anonymity said they have not yet received anything but promises.
Some decided to quit while others preferred to wait for some more days after they received threatening letters stating that they would be fired if they speak to the press.
“Until the end of Saturday we have not received anything with regard to contracts or delayed salaries, though they had promised to meet our needs by Saturday,” an employee said.
“We were promised our delayed salaries for two months, but nothing has come of it,” said another employee.
Samir Hussein, the head of human resources at the municipality, refused to comment on the matter, adding that only the media center at the municipally has the right to give statements to the press.
Last week the media center said it would start on Saturday to resolve the pay issue of the workers employed by the dengue fever program. It also promised to sign authorized contracts in which it will specify the salaries to these employees. It said it would take into consideration health hazards faced by these workers while dealing with pesticides.
