Law and You by Mohammed Jaber Nader

M.S. I have been working at an international school in Riyadh since September 2004. I worked for them for three years without receiving any allowances. Then in February 2008 my sponsorship was transferred to them. My appointment letter says: “You will be governed by the revised terms and conditions of Service-General.” The school management has not shown us this “Service-General” even after employees asked to see it. What does Saudi law says about this? In our school everyone — from peon to principal — is paid a basic salary plus a housing allowance and other benefits. I was the only employee not receiving any extras. After some struggle, they recently agreed that they would start paying me all benefits, but the date from where they want to count it is the day my sponsorship was transferred to them.

P.K. I am a 25-year-old Indian and the profession stated on my iqama is “Computer Engineer.” I was born in Saudi Arabia and am under my father’s sponsorship. After I found my first job in Riyadh I transferred the sponsorship to the current employer on a verbal agreement that he would release me later without objection. But now the employer is reneging on the agreement and I have no contract. I found some excellent opportunities with very good companies, but unfortunately I cannot join any of them unless I get a release from my employer. I have been working for my current employer since August 2006. What do you suggest?

J.S. I am a medical technician who’s working in a hospital in the southern region of the Kingdom. I took a licensure exam twice without passing. I want to take it a third time, but the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties instead discharged me with an exit letter. Other countries give three tries for such an exam and the commission has been known to grant licenses to others who have not taken the exam. I e-mailed the commission to no avail.

Z.T. I am an employee who has access to my company’s confidential work. What are my rights and obligations according to the law?

Confidentiality concerns the following matters: Any information concerning the company’s business plans, partners, innovative strategies, customers or accounting and other financial matters. An employee must never divulge these items to others outside or inside the company or to anyone who is not officially authorized. Violation of this term can make you financially liable for any harm done to the company. The law says an employer may compel an employee not to work for a competing company for up to two years, but keep in mind that even after this probationary period you can be sued for divulging company secrets.