Saudi Arabia to fine people for late payments for maids

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Labor has toughened measures against violators of labor rights, moving to impose up to 5,000 riyals ($1300) on employers who do not pay domestic workers their wages on time.

A Labor Ministry official said the new measures will go into effect within 60 days and are aimed at protecting the employment rights of foreign workers.

The new measures also require Saudi employers to give domestic workers at least nine hours of rest time daily and at least one full day off a week, unless otherwise a different arrangement is mutually agreed in a written contract.

Ibrahim al-sheddi, of the Saudi Human Rights Commission, told Al Arabiya Net that "the new measures are part of a series of regulations that the commission has followed up with the concerned authorities."

He said the commission is assisting the Ministry of Labor to develop a system that ensures the rights of workers and employees alike.

"There hasn't been a [clear] national system for labor. There have been contracts that differ from one recruitment office to another and now all contracts must follow this new system, which is an umbrella for all types of domestic labor."

Meanwhile, a labor ministry official said that an electronic system that will facilitate the recruitment of foreign labor would be launched in a few weeks. The electronic system is expected to resolve a series of problems currently facing the labor market. - See more at: http://www.nation.lk/edition/breaking-news/item/29774-saudi-arabia-to-fine-people-for-late-payments-for-maids.html#sthash.Dlm6zO4G.dpuf