Mohammed Rahim, a waiter at a local restaurant, has waited tables for around two years.

In that time, Mohammed has witnessed many changes, but one thing that remains stagnant is his wage.

“We were promised a pay increase after two months of joining, but there has been no sign of it,” said Mohammed. “The money I make is not enough for me to make ends meet.”

The minuscule wage has forced many waiters to leave their jobs and go back home, resulting in a shortage of labor.

Waiter salaries range between SR1,200 and SR1,500 a month, leaving them in a constant state of agitation over their finances.

“I make around SR1,100 a month,” said Tahir H., a waiter at an upscale restaurant. “I send more than half to my family back in Bangladesh and the rest of the salary is eaten up by small expenditures. There are occasions when I don’t even have money in my pocket.”

He added that tips are the most exciting, but also the most frustrating, aspect of any job.

Many waiters say it has been years since their salary went up by SR1,500, while others concur that they have been lead on by their bosses.

Contracts often promise SR1,500, but owners routinely pay less.

Several workers have complained to the Labor Ministry and have requested a standardized minimum wage.

Abdullah Al-Rahman, the owner of a local restaurant, denied rumors of having made false promises.

“The law has become firm and deception has become impossible,” he said. “However, the price of food has gone up significantly, forcing us to increase prices on the menu. Still, we make consistently less money month after month, making it impossible to increase employees’ wages.”

“The issue has already been put forth to the ministry,” he said.