I am an expatriate, working in a reputed company in a remote area of Saudi Arabia. My company denied my weekly rest day and compelled me to work at Friday’s also and allowed continues 4 days rest days in a month. Iam ready to forsaken my holidays in lieu of cash, but company rejected my request. Is the company procedure is legal?
In normal cases, Friday shall be the weekly rest day for all workers. But after proper notification to the competent labor office, the employer may replace this day for some of his workers by any other day of the week. The employer shall inform this change of rest day in the concerned labor office and obtain permission to do that. The labor office will allow this request on the condition that, the employer shall allow the workers to perform their religious obligations. One important aspect should be noted that, the weekly rest day may not be compensated by cash. The weekly rest day shall be at full pay and shall not be less than twenty-four consecutive hours.
But in some circumstances the employer has the freedom to consolidate the eight weekly rest days accrued by the employee, if the worksite is in remote areas and in jobs where the nature of work and operational conditions require continuous work. There must be a mutual consent by the employer and the workers, subject to the Ministry’s approval. In calculating the consolidated weekly rest periods, it shall be taken into consideration that said periods begin at the hour the workers arrive at the nearest city with transportation services and end at the hour the workers return to it.
