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Every day the situation of the Coronavirus becomes worst. Another hour, another minute Coronavirus (Covid-19) has become the biggest headline with rapidly changing economic, social, and mental challenges around the globe. With countries like china known as 3rd superpower is feeling helpless and trying its best to combat the deadly disease, other countries believe in taking the necessary precautionary steps to avoid the incidence of the lethal virus in the country.

Saudi Arabia is very keen on protecting its citizens and Saudi expats from Coronavirus, which is depicted by the various statements and orders passed by the authorities over a while, from restricting traveling to avoiding gathering at mosques. Recently the country gave 72 hours for Saudi expats and citizens to come back to the Kingdom with two weeks suspension of international flights cutting off all ties with the world.

The news of government offices and companies being shut as a precautionary measure also made to headlines. People questioned the partiality the country showed for its employers. However, the recent statement has shed down all such conspiracies. What is the new statement? Read all about it in the article below.

The Partiality Between Government and Private Employees

According to the Saudi Interior Ministry, on the recommendation of Ministry of health, all government agencies have been closed since March 16, 2020 to protect Saudi citizens and Saudi expats from the Coronavirus. However, after the detailed study by Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development  all private sectors employees working in Head office are granted for 15 days, keeping that the employees follow the precautionary measures while staying at home. Read more: SAMA Announces to Close all Banks in Saudi Arabia

Certain Conditions for 15 days Leaves of Private Sector in Saudi Arabia

The Private institutes have to reduce their workforce by 40% to branches and plants by allowing workers to work from home. Here are the following conditions.

1. Ensuring the sufficient distance is available between the employees.
2. Obliging the private sector establishments to close health clubs and nurseries located in its headquarters.
3. Obligation to apply the disclosure mechanism from all workers who exhibit symptoms of high temperature, coughing or shortness of breath, or mixing with an injured or suspected injury.
4. For private sector establishments that provide utility services to government agencies, they must coordinate with those bodies before suspending attendance at workplaces.
5. For private sector establishments that are unable to comply with the proportion of their attendance at the workplace specified in Clause (Second) above, they must submit their requests to the authority that supervises them.
6. Grant a compulsory leave of 14 days and not counted from the leave balance for all employees who fall into the following cases:

• Pregnant and lactating women.
• Respiratory diseases.
• Immunodeficiency diseases and users of immunosuppressive drugs.
• Tumors.
• Chronic diseases.
• Workers over fifty-five years old.

Did any Clarification Resolve the Fantasy of Private Employees?

According to the Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development has made it clear that

Employees of private sector except health and food services have been exempted from attending the 15 day Offices.

The Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development has issued this explanation in light of reports claiming that private institutions, like government agencies, have been closed for 16 days, private agency workers will work from their homes to companies and agencies. Read more: Saudi Jawazat Announces to Further Extend Saudi Family Visit Visa & Other Types of Visit Visas

Does this Clarity mean the Private Companies should call their Employees for Work?

No, all private companies have been ordered not to call any worker from outside Saudi Arabia on duty for 14 days from the date of arrival. Instructions are given to them to stay indoors. Further said,

If any Saudi expat worker from outside the Kingdom comes to know about the Coronavirus, notify the relevant authorities at the first opportunity. However, pregnant women, respiratory patients, people with the cure, and people with cancer have been sent on forced leave.

This means that the country is not in a complete lock-down. Even though the borders are sealed yet the country is busy working to stabilize its economy. Also though partiality in terms of government or the private institutes themselves is hurting the employees, but nothing can be changed. We wish everything come back to normal. Till then, share the article and subscribe to us for daily updates. Read more: Saudi Arabia Extends 3 more days for Umrah Pilgrims to Travel to their Home Country

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Source: MOL