“I have been working at a local airlines company for SR8,000 a month. I was paid for the first two months, but after that have received nothing for seven months,” said Ahmed Abdullah. “For the last five months, I have been working as a freelance taxi driver using my own car in order to provide my family with essential items such as food,” he added.

Working for the same company, Loulwa Yahya said that she had been working for four months and hadn’t been paid for three months. “I stopped going to the office two weeks ago. Other employees also left. They didn’t quit their jobs, but they just stopped going to the office and started looking for part-time jobs,” she said. “A group of employees went to the manager of the company and asked about their money. They told them that the company is not earning much, and that we would have to wait for our payment. But we don’t know for how long.”

Part time jobs are easier to find, and payment is guaranteed, according to Essam Youssef. “I’m currently employed as a marketing executive at a local company and I wasn’t paid for nearly four months. I moved from Madinah to Jeddah for this job and I don’t have anyone to rely on financially,” he said. “I work as a translator for a private company at night to cover my expenses and to earn some money. The payment of this job is guaranteed, since I get paid per hour,” he added.

Teachers at a private school in Jeddah find after school private tutoring the best solution to get income. “I have been working at this school for eight months now,” said Sanaa Ateyya. “We are supposed to get paid for holidays and days off too, but this school deducts money from our salaries, which leaves us with very little money. She added, “A group of teachers now work at school until noon and then go to students’ houses for private lessons. Although this second job is hectic and tiring, we are able to make more money than what the school actually offers us.”