“The violations include the use of expatriate workers for jobs different from those specified in their contracts, employing foreign workers who have (different) sponsors, delays in the payment of salaries, lack of company bylaws, non-application of the health and safety rules and not filling certain jobs with Saudi nationals,” the ministry report said.

Labor inspectors’  responsibilities include ensuring that companies fill their quotas of Saudi workers. These can vary by industry. However, according to the report, 144,000 Saudi nationals found jobs last year.

Al-Bawardi added that the ministry had imposed penalties ranging from issuing stern warnings to fines totaling SR8,321,494. In line with ministry rules, the money had been transferred to the Human Resources Fund.