Local media report that a Riyadh labour court has ruled in favor of 149 expatriate workers who filed a collective complaint against their employer for delayed salaries estimated at SR28 million.
In a complaint filed with the labour court on April 22 by workers of 10 nationalities, the claimant demanded payment of delayed salaries, vacation pay, and end-of-service gratuities.
A labour court's main concern is disputes arising from an employer's failure to meet his contractual obligations, pay his workers' wages, acknowledge workers' rights, or compensate them for work-related injuries.
The ruling will ensure that the rights of expatriate workers are protected and that they can change jobs without their employer's permission. It is in line with recent changes to the labour law that came into effect in March 2021.
Parties to labour disputes can now file cases at labour courts electronically through Najiz.sa, a portal operated by the Ministry of Justice. The General Organisation for Social Insurance handles all types of cases, whether they pertain to labour law claims or domestic worker claims, or complaints lodged by employers or workers against the General Organization for Social Insurance's decisions regarding registration, subscription, or compensation.
