The National Water Company (NWC) in Taif paid 300 striking water truck drivers here a total of SR150,000 to return to work on Sunday.
The NWC paid each worker SR500 to return to work at four water distribution centers in the area.
The workers are all expatriates from African and Asian countries. The workers reportedly earn SR1,500 a month.
According to the minutes of the labor dispute resolution committee meeting in Taif, the workers went on strike complaining of low salaries, deductions from their pay because of absenteeism, lack of medical insurance and working extra hours in Ramadan.
The minutes of the labor committee revealed that the problem emerged last Saturday when it received reports that the workers had stopped working at the water distribution centers in Al-Shourafia, Al-Houyya, Al-Arfaa and Al-Sail.
Committee members immediately went to the location to have discussions with the workers and management about the situation.
The minutes showed that the workers had agreed to go back to work the following day at 7 a.m. However, it later emerged that all water distribution had come to a halt at 9 a.m. A source said committee members returned to the location and found that only a few of the 300 workers had returned to work.
The source said that the workers returned to their jobs later and that the problem had been resolved in 13 hours.
The source claimed the workers took advantage of the urgent need for water during Ramadan to launch their strike. Their grievances also included getting more pay, vehicle insurance and other benefits linked to travel arrangements.
The NWC in Taif said in a statement that the problem was purely administrative and that there was not a shortage of water in the city.
A committee comprising members of Taif governorates was formed to follow up on the issue and address it.
Water truck drivers in Taif get SR500 each to end strike
