OFWs with Delayed Salary Free to Transfer Sponsorship
Jan 22, 2016
Most of the overseas Filipino workers or OFWs in Saudi Arabia experience late payment of their salary, some more than three months delayed. It was a struggle to sue the employer and transfer to other employer because of threats with their employment visa. But according to Minister of Labor Mufrij Al-Haqbani, expatriates have the right to transfer sponsorships if their sponsors delay their salaries for more than three months. He said that this act is a clear violation of the Saudi Labor Law. Al-Haqbani added that expatriates can transfer sponsorship if this is the case and they can sue the sponsors for pending salary.
With the rising number of complaints received by the Minister of Labor, e-services had been launched to serve workers better, implementing this on Jeddah, Rafhaa and Al-Dwadmi. This is part of the plan to facilitate interaction between employees and the ministry.
The ministry is focusing on making more electronic services available and prioritizing the rights of employees.