Law and You by Mohammed Jaber Nader

A.D.S. I have been working at a trading establishment as a marketing executive since December 1998. My iqama is valid till next year. Three months ago, as I was about to take my annual leave, my company withheld my sales commission because a shipment worth SR10,750 went missing from the courier that was delivering goods to my customer. I suggested instead of deducting this sum from my commission, my employer should file a complaint with the police. Since my return from vacation, my employer has not communicated with me. I tried to contact him through telephone, fax and e-mail to no avail. I have been coming to work every day, but my facilities have been taken away. I have been under a lot of stress for the past month. I believe my employer is trying to force me to quit. Please advise.

If what you are saying is accurate, what your employer is doing — forcing you to resign — is a serious violation of the law. Do not quit. Prepare your papers and take an Arabic translator with you to the Labor Office. All the time you spend in the complaint and absence from your work, will be counted as part of your service. The Labor Office will call your employer and explain to him the situation, which may incite him to change his mind. If he does not, you will be referred to the Labor Court. This is a tedious journey, which I do not recommend. It’s better try to leave this firm as quietly and with as little harm as possible. Not every employer here is like that.