A number of employees at three hospitals in southern Taif have called on the authorities to take urgent action because their salaries have not been paid for the fifth consecutive month.
Over 40 Saudi youths working for the operating company of the hospitals of Bani Saad, Meisan and Al-Qurai’ are still waiting patiently for their salaries.
Several employees said they were fed up with the broken promises from company officials and the Taif Health Administration, who, they claim, are on the company’s side.
They said these delays have been a regular occurrence. Their salaries have previously been delayed for six months and then for four months. A year ago, the Emir of Makkah had to intervene to solve the crisis.
A.H., an employee, said he was suffering. “I’m married and I’ve children in school. You can imagine my life without the only source of income for my six kids and my wife. Despite this, none of the officials have responded to our pleas, neither from the company or the Health Administration.”
Another employee, A.M., said: “When we remain absent from work for some reason, there is an immediate salary cut, but when it is time to pay our salaries it is not paid to us.”
He said they have been struggling with the operating company for several years, and claimed the Ministry of Health has done nothing to help them.
Sa’eed Al-Zahrani, spokesman of the Taif Health Administration, confirmed that the contractor’s checks would be handed over to the Labor Committee in the governorate, which will in turn hand over the company employees’ salaries for Saudis and non-Saudis.
SAUD AL-HARTHI
Saudi Gazette