DAMMAM: Eleven employees dismissed from a company in Alkhobar have filed a complaint to the Labor Office, after the company fired 20 Saudi nationals, including engineers and architects.

“What happened to us is the continuation of a series of improper dismissals by the company beginning in Ramadan, when the company fired eight Saudis,” says Ali Al-Nasser. “The company alleges poor oil prices and a decline in projects as the reason for dismissal, but expats remain employed in jobs for Saudis.”

Adds Ahmed Al-Majed: “Foreign nationals enjoy jobs and privileges at the same company, and monopolize the work and projects in order to ensure career security and access to work, but this comes at the expense of the Saudi architect or engineer who is marginalized and hired only to meet quotas.”

“The dismissed employees were split between those who agreed to the dismissal on the condition of receiving their full rights, after the company threatened stalling the case if they resorted to the Labor Office, and those who chose to file a suit against the company,” says Al-Majed, noting 11 Saudis filed a collective complaint against the company in November demanding their full rights and compensation for the unfair dismissal.

The employees are demanded that such unfair dismissals be stopped by companies, which is a violation of the Labor Law and regulations.

Meanwhile, sources reveal the company that fired the employees has a series of cases held up at the Labor Office.

Director of Media and PR at the Labor Office in the Eastern Province, Nada Manshi, confirmed that that the office has these cases, but refused to issue a statement regarding the dismissals.