By: Mohamed Idries:

Riyadh – Mubasher: The Ministry of Labour has convened with officials from the Saudi Binladin Group (SBG), said labour minister Mufrej al-Haqbani on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Euromoney Conference which began in Riyadh today, the minister stated that the ministry has signed an agreement with the Saudi construction firm to not lay off Saudis and to give them their salaries.

SBG gave all of its employees the choice to either stay or pursue their legal rights, he said, adding that the ministry cannot force the company to pay everyone’s salaries owing to the company’s current financial position.

Al-Haqbani highlighted that expat workers should not be taking jobs that can be carried out by Saudis.

He further stressed that any company that seeks to fire Saudis will not be permitted to do so. We have a weekly report on Saudi workers entering and exiting the private sector, he revealed.

We are reviewing the rights of workers who left SBG and those who are still working there, Al-Haqbani noted, adding that the ministry is facilitating the transfer of workers to other companies.

An informed source told Mubasher on Monday that the Binladin Group laid off 50,000 works since September.

Translated by: Nada Adel Sobhi