The problem has affected employees at the company’s Riyadh and Dhahran branches. One of them said the workers went on strike for nine days after they did not get their salaries for over six months.

The worker added that the company has promised to resolve the matter several times, but nothing has happened so far.

The man, who refused to give any personal information about himself, said the company also refused to allow them to take up part-time jobs elsewhere after they expressed concerns that they were short on cash.

“We’ve also learned that Saudi employees have not experienced salary delays. Does that mean that if you’re not Saudi, then you don’t need money?” said the worker, adding that he needs to support his family back home financially. He also expressed concerns that if the company finds out they have spoken to the press then things could become even more difficult for them.

The workers have complained to the Ministry of Labor. “When the company failed to pay us salaries for eight months we lodged a complaint at the Ministry of Labor. Following that complaint, we received salaries for two months and we’re still waiting for the remaining six months,” he said, adding that none of them can leave the Kingdom because the company refuses to issue final exit visas and their passports are being held by the company. He also said they feel trapped because their iqamas have expired.

The 28 workers in Dhahran, meanwhile, lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Watch (HRW), which published details of their plight on its website in May. HRW also added that three of the men are in need of medical help.

“One worker, a supermarket salesman, made plans five months ago to undergo an operation in his native India but (the company) failed to renew his residency permit when it expired a few months ago ... The worker is now trapped, unable to leave for India because he lacks a residency permit, a passport, which (the company) is holding, and an exit visa,” wrote HRW. Another worker has been experiencing increased numbness and paralysis in one of his legs.

Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW’s Middle East director, said these workers are trapped and that “Saudi labor authorities need to make sure that companies can’t get away with violating workers’ rights.”

HRW has published two reports about the matter on its website — one on April 23 and the second on May 28.

Arab News tried calling the company on different numbers and sent an e-mail to them but no one was available for comment. The owner of the company stated in a press release published on an online newspaper website that organizational difficulties experienced by his business is resulting in his employees’ suffering and assured he will resolve the matter.