Fahd Al-Dosary, an employee at Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport and father of three, complained that his salary finished before the end of the month. He said that his salary was not enough to support his family and buy basic needs. “It is difficult to support a family of four with SR3,000 a month,” he said.

Al-Dosary added, “Prices increase every day in Saudi Arabia, but our salaries remain the same. I quickly start budgeting my salary when I receive it. I put SR1,500 aside to save for apartment rent, which costs SR18,000 a year. The rest is divided to buy rice, meat, dairy, bread, water, children needs, gasoline and to pay bills.

Jamal Banoon, a Saudi economic author and head of the Saudi Center for Studies and Media, said that the minimum wage should be at least SR5,000.

“The minimum amount is not enough for Saudi or even expatriate families. We are facing tough times when prices increase every day, making it difficult for people to satisfy their daily needs. Defining the minimum wage is very important, but it should be compatible with the monthly needs of individuals and families,” he said.

Many Saudis are putting off marriage in order to save enough money.

Anas Al-Harbi, a 25-year-old Saudi who graduated from a health institution two years ago, complained that he couldn’t find a good job with an appropriate salary. He currently works for a medical center for SR2,800 a month.

“My salary is not enough to start a family. I am planning to get married soon, but with this salary it’s impossible. I have been engaged for two years, but unless I find a job with better pay, I will not be able to get married,” added Al-Harbi.

He said that he could not afford to pay for the dowry or even rent an apartment. “I can only save SR500 from my salary. With the rest, I pay the monthly installment for my car and other bills.”

Faisal Hamdan, a 32-year-old Saudi photographer working in a private company and a father of four, complained of the low salary he has been earning for the past two years.

“I have been working as a professional photographer for a long time now. Currently, I am working in a private company for SR3,000 a month. This salary is not enough to support my family. My salary is gone in the first ten days of the month; after that I moonlight to earn money or borrow money from my brothers.”

Jamal Banoon said increasing crime rates were an indication of growing poverty.

“A person who wants to earn quick money sometimes snatches cell phones and sell them for SR200 in order to buy milk for his children or groceries.”

According to Banoon, private companies sometimes cheat employees. They give the employee only SR3,000 despite the company getting financial support from the Human Resources Fund.

“Some companies still pay the employees less than SR3,000,” he said. Banoon confirmed that most companies were cheating employees because in Saudi Arabia there is no organization to protect the rights of employees.

“The solution is not to offer job opportunities, but to offer job opportunities with suitable salaries. We have many youth who are working, but they are very poor and barely make ends meet.”