RIYADH: The Saudi Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf) gave out SR300.2 million ($80 million) to private sector companies in January as part of the government’s wage support scheme, benefiting 133,000 Saudi workers, according to a report by the Okaz newspaper.
Saudi private sector workers earning between SR3200 and SR15,000 were eligible for support, with the scheme covering up to 50 percent of an employee’s monthly wage for a period of two years.
Private companies also received an additional 10 percent support for female workers or people with disabilities.
This is not the first program launched to support Saudi wages. The Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi in November announced a decision to raise the minimum wage for Saudis from SR3,000 ($800) to SR4,000.
Minimum wage for Saudis raised to SR4,00049,000 Saudis employed via Hadaf in 11 months