GENEVA (ILO News) - Workers in Saudi Arabia are now able to defend their rights through committees at the workplace, a move welcomed by ILO Director-General Juan Somavia as another step in promoting social and labour rights in the Middle East.
After a visit to Saudi Arabia earlier this year by a team of ILO experts, the Saudi Minister of Labour, Dr. Ali Al-Namlah, has now signed into law new labour rules that allow workers in Saudi Arabia - both national and foreign - to establish committees to guard their interests at workplaces where 100 or more are employed.
"This is a milestone in the labour history of Saudi Arabia and recognizes the valuable role that organized labour can play in the economic and social development of the country," Mr. Somavia said. "It is gratifying for the ILO to be cooperating with a country which is making real efforts to promote social and labour rights."
In Bahrain, the ILO has provided similar technical assistance in helping workers' committees move to full Trade Union status.
The ILO hopes other States in the Gulf will follow these models to ensure conformity with fundamental standards and principles on trades union and collective bargaining rights, Mr. Somavia said.
Mr. Somavia visited Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in October 2001 and signed a cooperation agreement with the labour Ministers of the Gulf States, under which these countries will benefit from ILO technical programmes to promote core ILO standards in the fields of trade union rights, forced labour, child labour and equal opportunities.
Last week, another ILO expert team completed consultations with Saudi Ministry of Labour officials on a comprehensive new labour law which is expected to be submitted to the Consultative Assembly (Shora) in the near future.