Workers protest in Makkah, Jeddah over delayed wages

A fresh wave of protests erupted this week in the Saudi Arabian cities of Makkah and Jeddah by employees of major firms over unpaid wages, local media reported.

In Makkah, around 150 workers from a construction company gathered in protest on Monday and damaged company vehicles, Saudi Gazette reported.

The workers were protesting delayed wages and lack of proper accommodation, the report said without naming the company they worked for.  

In a separate incident on Monday, 150 expatriate workers employed by Saudi Oger set fire to an unspecified number of company buses and heavy vehicles at the contractor’s Jeddah office, Arab News reported.

The employees were protesting the non-payment of salaries for six months, Jeddah police spokesman Atti Al-Qurashi said.

Construction firms in the kingdom have been hard-hit by falling oil prices, as public spending cuts led to a slowdown in the sector.

Saudi Binladin Group (SBG), the kingdom’s largest contractor, in particular, has been involved in a series of disputes with workers over unpaid or delayed wages.

Last month, the contractor’s employees reportedly set fire to more than seven company buses in Makkah, protesting non-payment of salaries and thousands of recent layoffs.