JEDDAH, 28 September 2004 — The Council of Ministers yesterday approved new measures to speed up settlement of labor disputes. It gave subsidiary panels of the Supreme Committee for the Settlement of Labor Disputes the authority to issue their final verdict in all appeal cases and to decide punishments as per the law.

The Cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Abdullah, insisted that the panels as well as primary committees give their decisions on the basis of the opinion of majority members. “The decisions must be signed by all members. Those who oppose the decisions must mention the reason,” the Saudi Press Agency said quoting a Cabinet statement.

The Supreme Committee will have several subsidiary panels, each with not less than three members, the Cabinet said revealing alterations to the existing Labor Law. The chairman of the committee and its members will be named by the Cabinet on the recommendation of the labor minister, SPA said, adding that the committee’s members must have obtained a degree in Shariah and general law and be experienced in labor issues.

“The chairman of the panel will fix the date for looking into the case presented for appeal within 15 days after registration of the case and the panel must give its verdict on the dispute within 30 days after the first sitting,” Article 181 of the amended law said.

The labor minister will decide the number of panels as well as the areas of their work on the recommendation of the committee’s chairman, who will be authorized to name the chairmen of subsidiary panels, distribute work among them and supervise their activities, Culture and Information Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy said after the meeting.

Referring to Internet service, he said King Abdul Aziz City of Science and Technology (KACST) would continue to operate the service until all the staff and equipment are shifted and the Communication and Information Technology Commission (CITC) starts issuing licenses to service providers.

The Cabinet shifted the responsibility of supervising the dissemination of information from KACST’s Internet unit to CITC. All equipment which are in excess at KACST’s Internet unit would be shifted to Saudi Telecom Company, the Cabinet said, adding that a special panel would assess the value of the equipment and the money will go to state coffers.

The meeting gave the Saudi Geological Survey the responsibility of seismic observation. The main center for national network for seismic observation will be brought under the organization. It will take over the operation and maintenance of all seismic observation stations and inform the government of seismic changes in the country.

Prince Abdullah earlier briefed the ministers on the outcome of his talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Al-Farsy said, adding that the two leaders discussed major international issues, the Kingdom’s efforts to reinforce stability in Afghanistan and ways to strengthen bilateral ties.

The weekly meeting expressed its concern over the worsening security situation in neighboring Iraq, where “innocent women, children and the elderly are killed every day.” It called for a united international stand to end the continuing bloodbath in Iraq.

It also voiced concern over the continuing Israeli military incursions into Palestinian cities and villages and its atrocities against the Palestinians.