My question involves employment and labor law for the state of: Saudi Arabia
We work for a Saudi Arabian company called Pannesma Co. Ltd, an Atheeb Group company. We signed a contract agreement for 3 years. If we leave in between the project, we have to give the company two months notice. Per company instructions, if we leave without the required 2 months notice, we would not be allowed to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for two years. Part of our contract states that Pannesma Co. Ltd shall pay us one and half month salary (1.5 months) at the end of our three year contract. The contract expired June 19, 2009 and they have us sign another three year contract with them.
Here is where our problems started, the company did not pay us our end of year contract money and they have not paid us our salary for the month of October. We asked the company why, the management informed us, the Royal Saudi Air Force did not pay Pannesma Co. Ltd and we are not going to pay until the Royal Saudi Air Force pays them. In other words, we become negotiating chips for the company so they can apply pressure to Royal Saudi Air Force. We have families, mortgage, and food and bills to pay, we cannot afford to be part of this games. What are the legal means available to us to get our end of year service money and salary from this Saudi employer? Can we take legal action such as class action lawsuit against Pannesma Co. Ltd. for violation of contractual agreement with us? Majority of us are Saudi nationals and about 10% of us are from Philippines, Canada, United States, European Union, Pakistan and India.

