JEDDAH: The Labor Ministry announced that 5.6 million workers in 12,550 private companies are under the Wage Protection System (WPS) program. The ministry had successfully completed the ninth stage of the program, which started on the 19th of Muharram.

The program serves the ministry’s goals in following up on the performance of the labor market, ensuring worker’s rights, reducing labor problems and building a healthy work environment that supports higher productivity.

The first stage of this program was launched in the month of Shawwal 1434 AH, and covered all facilitates that employ more that 3,000 workers, while the remaining eight stages have been successfully completed covering all facilities with more than 100 workers.

At the same time, the Labor Ministry announced dates of the next stages of the program, which will include facilities with between 11 and 100 workers. The tenth stage will start from the first of February 2016.

The ministry emphasized its commitment to apply WPS on all private facilities to ensure labor rights and reduce labor disputes between employers and workers.

Meanwhile, the ministry approved the list of penalties under the labor regulation, which came into force at the beginning of 1437. Companies delaying workers’ wages will be fined SR3,000, according to the penalties list of the new labor regulation.