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{
    "id": 949083,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/949083/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 278,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "are normally exposed to all sorts of illegal activities and which are, from time to time, escalated in the social media. This group of employees is likely to fall into the hands of unscrupulous employers who are not monitored through the recognised Musaned system hence the source of the negative publicity with regard to employment in the Middle East. The way the employee moves to that particular country is important. Some are cheated by some unscrupulous agents to go to Saudi Arabia without going through the correct channels. They fall victim to unscrupulous employers who punish them. These are the employees we call “the runaways.” They live in Saudi Arabia as if the Government does not know they are there. On working hours, the Saudi Arabian laws state that domestic workers are not supposed to work for more than nine hours per day. Those working in hazardous areas are expected to work for seven hours per day in accordance with the provisions of the Saudi Arabian laws under Articles 98, 99 and 100. On annual leave, which is another labour requirement under Article 109 of the Saudi labour laws, a worker is entitled to pre-paid 21 working days leave in a year of not less than 12 months. Under Article 110 of the Saudi Arabian laws, a worker may, with the approval of his employer, postpone his annual leave to the following year thereof, but the employer cannot postpone for more than 90 days in aggregate. A worker is entitled to accrue leave days’ pay if not taken at the time of separation with the employer in accordance with Article 111 of the Saudi Arabian laws. So, when we look at the annual leave, it is of international standards. On rest days, an employee in Saudi Arabia is entitled to one day of rest on Fridays every week with full pay. Any rest day worked is not compensated by cash but by one extra rest day. That is in accordance with Article 104 of the Saudi Arabian laws. On service pay, a worker is entitled to have a salary for every complete year during the first two years, but less than five years of service. Any employee who works for more than five years is entitled to one month salary for every complete year of service. This is for employees who earn their salaries at the end of the month. This is in accordance with Article 84 of the Saudi labour laws. For employees who earn their wages in a period of less than one month, they are entitled to one third of their wages for the complete year in a period of less than five years of service. All terminal benefits are to be paid within a period of less than two weeks from the date of separation. This is in accordance with Article 85 of the Saudi Arabian laws. Please note that all the payments are calculated on the basis of the final wage rates paid to employees. During termination, either party is expected to issue a one month notice in writing or pay cash in lieu to the other party. This is also happening in our country. It is part of the labour laws that we have in Kenya. On other measures, in an effort to alleviate the challenges faced by workers who for one reason or another terminate their contracts before securing other jobs, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has set up newly constructed centres equipped with all household facilities with labour, migration and security offices. These serve as call centres for domestic workers to make reports whenever their employers deny them their rights. Through these centres, where disputes are concluded and the employer is unable to settle, the Government pays and the employee is left to follow up with the employer who is temporarily blocked from transacting any business until the Government recovers the money. These are dispute centres that have been created in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. So, if there is a dispute between the worker and the employer, it is sorted out in that particular area. But if the employee is correct, then the Government takes over the payment of the salaries and dues of that worker and follow the rogue employer. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}