New law to ensure quick settlement of labor disputes

A new law with 28 articles has been approved for amicable settlement of labor disputes in the Kingdom, Labor Minister Adel Fakeih announced on Wednesday. He said the new law would help speed up settlement procedures and ensure quick justice to all parties involved.
Fakeih made this comment while addressing a forum on labor dispute settlement. “We have organized this forum to reach consensus on measures for the settlement of labor disputes in the country,” he said.
Ahmed Al-Humaidan, deputy minister for labor policies, said the forum was aimed at creating partnership between labor, employer and government to ensure quick resolution of disputes, protecting the interests of both workers and their employers without affecting market and economy.
Mansour Al-Shathry, head of the labor committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers, praised the ministry for involving business leaders to discuss labor regulations. “This will contribute to narrow differences on various labor-related issues and unify efforts to nationalize jobs,” he said.
He emphasized the need for creating a better working environment, protecting the rights of workers and respecting terms of work contracts. He called for effective steps for quick settlement of disputes.
Nidhal Ridwan, president of the constituent committee of the labor union, said companies must be encouraged to settle labor disputes within their four walls to protect their interests and reputation.
“This requires strengthening their HR departments,” he said. Workers should also be educated about their rights and duties. “Productive labor panels must be set up inside firms to help workers express their views, make their proposals and demands,” he added.
The two-day forum will discuss mechanisms for amicable settlement of labor disputes and review a study on the reason for increase in labor disputes and proposals to reduce them. Modern methods and international best practices for dispute settlement will also be discussed.