Labor Minister Adel Fakeih said yesterday that it was up to the Council of Ministers to revoke the decision to levy an annual fee of SR 2,400 on private firms for every expatriate worker in excess of Saudis.
“It was not a decision taken by the Labor Ministry. It was a Cabinet decision and only the Cabinet can change it,” he said, adding that he would inform higher authorities the effect of implementing the decision.
Fakeih’s statement’s came after many businesses raised their objections against what they called a “hasty” decision.
A cleaning contractor in Makkah said it was not able to renew the iqamas of its 4,249 workers due to the newly imposed fees.
The ministry came to the contractor’s help after the cleaning workers went on strike. According to Makkah Municipality, the crisis is now over as the cleaners have returned to work.