The Ministry of Social Affairs has approved an increase in the number of surveillance cameras at welfare centers and rehab shelters under its supervision following the circulation of YouTube videos showing staff mistreating boarders at several centers across the Kingdom, said Khaled Al-Thubaiti, ministry spokesman.

“We will strictly monitor employee conduct at these shelters to ensure that residents at these centers are treated decently,” he said.

“We had already deployed several cameras in the past, but this number will be increased.”

The ministry had conducted extensive investigations into footage that has appeared on YouTube over the past few years in centers in Najran, Taif, Al-Dawaser valley and Jazan.

Several workers had been previously penalized for misconduct.