Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development called on private sector entities to abide by the compulsory two-week sick leave for pregnant women, sick people and returnees from abroad.
The mandatory sick leave will also be given to people with respiratory and chronic diseases, tumours and immunodeficiency, who work in the private sector. In addition, workers who take immunosuppressant drugs will be granted the sick leave.
The ministry’s move, taken as part of the kingdom’s relentless efforts and precautionary measures to combat the spread of coronavirus, follows the decision by the national committee tasked with the following up on coronavirus developments.
As per the rule, pregnant women and people with respiratory and chronic diseases, immunodeficiency and users of immunosuppressant drugs, shall be given a mandatory two-week leave, and it shall not be deducted from their leave balance.
Dr. Tawfiq Al Rabiah said the committee tasked with monitoring coronavirus developments decided to implement a set of preventive measures to thwart outbreaks.
Employees who returned from abroad will be subject to mandatory home quarantine for 14 days, and shall not be allowed to return to work except after the end of the quarantine period. Those who show symptoms of the Covid-19 virus must immediately be referred to medical care.
Based on the decision by the Ministry of Interior to suspend international flights for passengers for two weeks, starting from March 15, those who had not been able to return, will be considered to be on exceptional official leave.
