Shoura suggests SR2,000 minimum Saudi wage

A Shoura Council committee has recommended a monthly minimum wage of SR2,000 for Saudi employees enrolled with the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) pension scheme in a bid to counter fake nationalization figures.
Mohammad Al-Naji, head of the administration and human resources committee at the council, said a large number of Saudi employees working in the private sector earn way less than that amount although employers cook the figures on official records.
“The proposal aims to raise their pay and address bogus salary and headcount figures,” he said.
“Many of these employees have marginal pension proceeds because of these low wages. As such, the amendment will reflect positively on their earnings in the future.”
Al-Naji said the minimum salary cannot be less than financial aid given through the Hafiz unemployment scheme, which he also said is too low.
The proposal, submitted by Al-Naji, suggests amending several articles in social insurance clauses to make the proposal binding.
The Shoura Council will meet next Tuesday to discuss the proposal.
Recent data released by GOSI indicates that 73,000 Saudis earn less than SR2,000 a month.