Employers who count weekends as part of a worker’s annual leave will be fined up to SAR100,000, a local daily quoting a Ministry of Labor source as saying on Sunday.
According to Makkah Arabic daily, the source said the ministry has recorded several infraction of employers taking advantage of the ignorance of employees about their rights. Such companies count weekends as part of annual vacation which is a clear violation of Saudi Labor Law.
Offenders often face monetary fines but also occasionally receive administrative sanctions. The ministry has the right to increase the penalty stated under the law when the violation is repeated.
The source said a deadline will be given to violators to settle their fines. Otherwise, they will receive harsher the penalties.
In extreme cases, the ministry has the authority to shut down company operations for days. Repetition of infractions could subject the ministry to revoke the license of the employer.