[Saudi Arabia] Minimum wage will apply to all new and existing workers

The decision to raise the minimum wage for Saudis from SAR 3,000 ($800) to SAR 4,000 ($1,066) will apply to all existing and new workers in the Saudi labour market, according to The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Arab News reports.

Makkah newspaper quoted the ministry’s spokesperson - Nasser Al-Hazani - saying that any employee earning less than SAR 4,000, will be defined as a “half worker” under the Nitaqat program. He added that the rule will be applied to existing private-sector employees as well as new workers.

The official said the groups who will benefit from the decision are private-sector employees with wages subject to social insurance and salaries less than SAR 4,000. He added that the ministry does not currently have any statistics regarding the number of beneficiaries whose earnings total between SAR 3,000 and SAR 4,000 per month. It is reportedly working with the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) to compile these stats.

According to data from financial news portal Argaam, the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development - Ahmad bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi - recently issued a decision to raise the minimum wage calculation for Saudis in Nitaqat from SAR 3,000 to SAR 4,000.

The decision to raise the minimum wage for Saudis from SAR 3,000 ($800) to SAR 4,000 ($1,066) will apply to all existing and new workers in the Saudi labour market, according to The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Arab News reports.

Makkah newspaper quoted the ministry’s spokesperson - Nasser Al-Hazani - saying that any employee earning less than SAR 4,000, will be defined as a “half worker” under the Nitaqat program. He added that the rule will be applied to existing private-sector employees as well as new workers.

The official said the groups who will benefit from the decision are private-sector employees with wages subject to social insurance and salaries less than SAR 4,000. He added that the ministry does not currently have any statistics regarding the number of beneficiaries whose earnings total between SAR 3,000 and SAR 4,000 per month. It is reportedly working with the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) to compile these stats.

According to data from financial news portal Argaam, the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development - Ahmad bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi - recently issued a decision to raise the minimum wage calculation for Saudis in Nitaqat from SAR 3,000 to SAR 4,000.