Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
On one particular Friday (that was last week), I went with a bunch of friends to Al Ramaniya Mall – the famous hangout of Filipinos – in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia and had, as usual, the chance to prattle (as in, to talk about our harrowing experiences at work in so insouciant a manner as to at least find a temporary relief of our boredom) with my fellow Filipinos. To my surprise, what was supposed to be a mere yap on this day turned into a serious discussion of our experiences that must have warranted a random, if not regular, check by the Philippine Embassy into some companies employing Filipinos.
Unexpectedly, the following became the meat of our discussion.
- Right to be furnished a copy of the employment contract
According to John (not his real name), his company did not give him a copy of his employment contract upon his arrival in Saudi Arabia, claiming that he could ask for it only in due time (i.e., when he needs it for a certain purpose) and that he could do so through the system they call ERP or Baan (which is equivalent to the Human Resources Information System that is usually used by the Philippine companies) subject to the approval of the HR Manager.
I told him the approval of the HR Manager is [supposedly] not required because it is a legally settled fact that both parties to a contract, whether related to employment or whatsoever, must each have a copy thereof, and it is applicable not only in Saudi Arabia but in all other countries as well.
In Saudi Arabia, I told him further that it is specifically set forth under Article 77 of its Labor and Workmen Law that “labor contract must be in writing, drawn up in Arabic and in duplicate to be retained by each of the two parties.” It is, however, the practice that the labor contract is written in both English and Arabic.
Taking a further look into Article 77, it is stated that one’s employment may not necessarily be under a written contract but he can demand at a later time for a written contract. What is perplexing to note, however, is that the onus of proof lies with the employee, as can be read in the same article, which says, “However, even though it is not written, a contract shall be considered existent, so that the workman alone may by all means of proof establish his rights.”
- Doing a job different from what is stipulated in the labor contract
Jokingly, I told him it should not matter, because what is important is, you are paid a monthly salary, as agreed.
But what startled me is, he was supposedly hired as a secretary but is actually assigned as a storekeeper. When asked why he did not complain, he told me with a snap of desperation: “Wala na koy mahimo, bay. Naa man ko diri. Ako nalang antoson (I cannot do something about my case, my friend. I am already here [in Saudi Arabia]. So I must bear with it).”
I am pretty sure his case is not unprecedented. In our company, there is this one Indian hired as a secretary but deployed as a production helper. But unlike him, the latter is a graduate of a bachelor’s degree who does not possess the required linguistic proficiency and computer skills, to the director’s chagrin.
They would not have experienced this if only their company had strictly followed the law: “A workman shall perform the work required of him pursuant to labor contract.”
- Working more than the required number of hours a day
Not only was John reassigned as a storekeeper; he has been working for a maximum of 12 hours a day for more than a year. Disappointingly, he claimed he has not since been paid an overtime pay for his overtime work that run up to, more or less, four hours a day. Granting that he joined his company on September 1, 2010 (meaning, his length of service is one year and six months, or 18 months) with a salary of SAR 1500 a month and that he is rendering four hours overtime work, he should have earned on top of his basic earning, thus:
OT Hours Worked: 18 months x 26 = 468 days (26 days per month) 468 days x 4 = 1872 hours (OT work is 4 hours a day) OT Pay Per Hour: SAR 1,500 / 30 / 8 = SAR 6.25 (Regular hourly rate) 6.25 + (6.25 * 0.5) = SAR 9.375 (OT Pay Rate per hour) OT Pay: 1872 x 9.375 = SAR17,550 (equivalent to P198,315, computed based on P11.30 per SAR)
With P198,315, John could have bought a parcel of land with an area of 132.21 square meters for P1500 per square meter or could have built a decent house (if he doesn’t have one).
Related articles
- Saudi Arabia’s repression against its citizens and Sectarianism will change the Shape of the Region in Near Future (jafrianews.com)
- Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan are the Middle East Axis of Evil (therearenosunglasses.wordpress.com)
- Jobs in Saudi Arabia for the Driver (lowker92.wordpress.com)
- Saudi Arabia – Purple Haze (jellylondon.wordpress.com)
- World Briefing | Middle East: Saudi Arabia: Year After Protest, Six Suspects Remain in Jail, a Rights Group Says (nytimes.com)
- Rogge confident Saudis will send women to London (sportsillustrated.cnn.com)
- Jobs in Saudi Arabia for Technician and Elektrical (lowker92.wordpress.com)
- Rachael Rudolph says she feels at home in Saudi Arabia, just like in the United States (fauxcapitalist.com)
Of Life & The Living 
Thanks for helping us understand this practice. I had been led to understand that the Saudis imported a good deal of their labor and don’t extend their “freedoms” much to the workers. I’m told that movement is restricted and they are not allowed to shop in some areas? Is this correct? I’m also advised that one cannot be a citizen of the country without being a Saudi by birth? Is this also correct?
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Posted by Sherry | March 21, 2012, 9:34 pmThank you for your comments. I will post more articles regarding these in due time.
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Posted by Danilo Tao-tuan Naraja | March 22, 2012, 1:15 amI’m also very impressed by the depth and thoughtfulness of your posts, on a subject I really know very little about, and ought to know more. Thank you for sharing.
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Posted by Eau de Nil | March 21, 2012, 9:01 pmYou’re welcome, Eau de Nil. I will write more about Saudi Arabia when I will not anymore be very busy with my work.
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Posted by Danilo Tao-tuan Naraja | March 27, 2013, 9:15 pmThanks for following my transitional space blog. There is such a lot on yours to read, so much about areas of the world I do not know, I can see I have a lot to learn. Thanks also for all this work you are doing to help us become better informed and take what part we can in the fight(s) for fairness. Elspeth
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Posted by elspethc | March 18, 2012, 4:46 pmThank you, too.
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Posted by Danilo Tao-tuan Naraja | March 27, 2013, 9:43 pmExcellent write up, and its really nice to you covering the darker side of Saudi Arabia. I have done my schooling in Al Khobar from Saudi Arabian Int’l School Pakistani section and lived in Dammam for 10 good years so I have a bit of idea how things work in Kingdom but definitely your blog will help me learn more about the working conditions in Kingdom.
Keep up the good work friend : )
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Posted by Tanzeel | March 18, 2012, 10:56 amThank you, Tanzeel. 10 years is long enough to learn about Saudi Arabia if you just had turned your eyes on what has actually been happening here. But, anyway, I surmise you were just so focused on your schooling. However, I will also be writing wonderful stories about Saudi Arabia.
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Posted by Danilo Tao-tuan Naraja | March 27, 2013, 9:21 pmIt is one of the saddest part of being an ofw. Everybody deserves a fair compensation and benefits. Hope we’ll see a bright future ahead!
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Posted by loidabestdiscovery | March 17, 2012, 12:37 pmits the same plight that nepali workers face there
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Posted by itssrijana | March 17, 2012, 3:39 amAbsolutely true. Nepalis are “literally” used here. They receive the lowest pay among foreigners working here. I pity them.
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Posted by Danilo Tao-tuan Naraja | March 27, 2013, 9:25 pmtotally agree here the news inform us all about there.
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Posted by srijana kattel | March 28, 2013, 5:38 amI enjoyed reading your article; I will be back for more.
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Posted by pattylt69 | March 15, 2012, 3:20 pmThank you, Ms. Patty.
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Posted by Danilo Tao-tuan Naraja | March 27, 2013, 9:41 pmThank you for following my blog, Pull of the Sun. Your OFW article is truly interesting and informative, an inspiration. Keep in touch.
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Posted by kshawnedgar | March 14, 2012, 7:06 pmThank you.
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Posted by Danilo Tao-tuan Naraja | March 27, 2013, 9:41 pmThis is really sad. If only we have opportunities here, our kababayans need not have to sacrifice too much and get so less.
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Posted by jumbledcoffeethoughts | March 14, 2012, 3:14 amThis is a sad fact, really! Filipinos work more but are paid less.
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Posted by Danilo Tao-tuan Naraja | March 27, 2013, 9:40 pmExcellent series. I found it interesting that most of what you wrote about is considered illegal. I will try to be brief. In America a employer can walk up and simply say “your services are no longer needed” and you are escorted off the property by security and your personal effects are in a box waiting for you. Without an explanation. In fact they are encouraged not to give an explanation for fear of legal action. Probation after transfer is quite common and things like severance pay? That’s just for executives. I guess what I am saying is that most of the working class in America take workplace issues that you have brought up so much for grated as the normal reality for all workers. It is interesting to see the contrast on this issue from a different cultural perspective.
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Posted by White Male Oppressor | March 13, 2012, 9:48 pmI agree with this comment. Very interesting topic. The sad reality here is, I guess it doesn’t matter where, when, who or why….people are used, and certainly not truly viewed with much value, particularly when it comes to labor and compensation. We are just a bunch of worker ants, and we keep on moving,moving,moving because, number 1, it is our nature. Number 2, if we don’t the colony doesn’t eat. Sooner or later we stare up at the mighty soul of the giants shoe and ultimately we will be stepped on. It just seems this is the way of life, living, and working, time and time again. This is not limited to large companies, I have seen small do the same to it’s loyal workers (they may be nicer about it) $$$$$ will forever dictate and sadly, hold power over all else. There will always be a battle waged against what’s right, and what’s fair.
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Posted by 5kidsmom | March 17, 2012, 1:14 pmI absolutely agree to your comment. But I opine that the most difficult battle to fight is taking place right within ourselves, whether we are Saudi natives or what have you, and that is how to apply what we know is right and fair. The natives with whom I have been working are fully aware of the fact that there are illegal practices of some companies here. But they have kept mum about it, as they have gotten used to all these.
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Posted by Danilo Tao-tuan Naraja | March 27, 2013, 9:34 pm