RIYADH: In the past five years, 307,855 workers in the private sector were injured as they were doing their jobs, 92 percent of whom were foreigners.
According to government reports reviewed by Aleqtesadiah daily, 54 percent of these injuries occurred in Riyadh, Makkah and Dammam, with the construction industry alone accounting for 46 percent of the overall injuries during the past five years.
In 2016, the number of injured workers decreased by 20 percent with 53,404 injuries against 67,087 injuries in 2015; 69,241 injuries in 2014; 52,467 injuries in 2013; and 65,656 injuries in 2012.
Occupational hazard coverage of the Social Security System is applied to all Saudi and non-Saudi workers in the private sector, without distinction of age or gender.
Employers pay the monthly insurance premium and cover all expenses for injuries that workers sustain during work in the workplace, on their way from home or to work, and occupational diseases.
The Social Security System also covers enrollees whose salaries have dropped by 10 percent or more in their last years of work before retirement. In this case, special provisions apply to adjust the average monthly earnings used to calculate benefits.
In this exceptional case, the Social Security System calculates the average wage during the past two years (after the salary dropped) and the wage average before this period (before the salary dropped). The final retirement pension is the average of the salaries in these two independent periods.
In normal cases, the retirement pension is the average salary of the two years prior to retirement. These laws are issued in order to preserve the rights of the enrollees and protect them from any consequences caused by a salary decrease during their last two years of work.
Workplace safety key concern for Saudi private construction sector
Workplace safety key concern for Saudi private construction sector
World’s falconers set for fierce contest in Riyadh
- With $9.6m in prizes, King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival preserves and promotes Arab tradition
RIYADH: The Saudi Falcons Club has finalized preparations for the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, scheduled to take place from Dec. 3 to 19 at the club’s headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh.
Recognized as the largest world’s gathering of falcons, the festival will feature a distinguished group of falconers, including amateurs, professionals and falcon owners from Saudi Arabia and abroad.
They will compete in Al-Mellwah (falcon racing) and Mazayen (falcon beauty pageant) competitions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The club's CEO, Talal Al-Shamaisi, said that the festival’s primary aim is to advance falconry as a cultural hobby while preserving and promoting this Arab tradition.
He said that the club strives to position falconry as a major heritage tourism attraction, fostering national pride and engaging younger generations in a competitive yet spirited environment.
The festival also aligns with efforts to promote environmental conservation and protect wildlife, Al-Shamaisi added.
He said that the festival has earned a spot in the Guinness World Records three times for hosting the world’s largest gathering of falcons.
This year, the competition will span 17 days and feature 138 rounds, with more than 900 prizes up for grabs, totaling SR36 million ($9.6 million).
In addition to the main competitions, the festival will feature various accompanying events.
The club’s spokesman, Walid Al-Taweel, said that one of the highlights will be the Falconer of the Future Pavilion, aimed at engaging and educating the next generation of falconers.
This initiative will incorporate interactive activities blending modern technologies with traditional falconry knowledge, history and hunting techniques.
Al-Taweel said that the festival will have 10 internal pavilions displaying falconry and hunting gear, as well as trip equipment. These pavilions will offer a comprehensive experience for visitors, combining authenticity with adventure.
Al-Mellwah, the racing competition, will have 49 qualifying rounds, while the Mazayen competition will feature six rounds for falcons sourced from international production farms, in addition to special rounds for emerging young falconers.
Falconers will compete for prestigious prizes, including the King Abdulaziz Cups and the coveted King’s Sword, underscoring the festival’s role in celebrating the cultural heritage of falconry and pushing the boundaries of competitive spirit.
Saudi team wins top Arab spot at World Robot Olympiad in Turkiye
- The Kingdom sent 15 teams of 30 students from various regions, supported by 11 advisers and 15 trainers
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jawhara Al-Qahtani and Aseel Al-Jasser secured first place among Arab countries and ninth globally on debut in the Future Engineers category at the World Robot Olympiad International Final.
Held in the Turkish city of Izmir from Nov. 26 to 30, the contest drew participants of all ages from more than 90 countries, with a focus on creativity in robotics and artificial intelligence.
The Kingdom sent 15 teams of 30 students from various regions, supported by 11 advisers and 15 trainers, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The collaborative effort involved the Saudi Ministry of Education, the Saudi Federation for Robotics & RC Sports, Tuwaiq Academy, and Tatweer Education Holding Co.
The competition featured categories such Robo Missions, Robo Sports, Innovators of the Future, and Future Engineers.
Al-Qahtani and Al-Jasser credited their success to months of work at a camp at Tuwaiq Academy, SPA reported.
They built the robot using artificial intelligence, machine learning, 3D printing, and sensors connected to camera and radar technologies.
A training camp for Saudi participants was held at Tuwaiq Academy, the training arm of the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, aimed at enhancing students’ creativity, design capabilities and problem-solving skills through robotics competitions and activities aligned with educational plans.
Saudi aid supports Nigerian orphans, Yemen’s displaced
Riyadh: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has signed a joint agreement to support orphans in Ilorin, Nigeria.
Under the agreement, 800 orphans aged 2 to 18 will receive housing, food, healthcare and education through orphanages in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Kwara State.
About 150 orphans between the ages of 15 and 18 will be trained in craft trades to help them earn a living, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
KSrelief also signed a cooperation agreement with a civil society organization to establish a residential complex for internally displaced persons in the Midi district of Yemen’s Hajjah governorate.
The project, valued at $3.81 million, will benefit 4,094 people, SPA reported.
The initiative will provide 232 housing units, each consisting of two rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and an open courtyard.
Additional facilities will include a secondary school, a mosque and a children’s playground to support residents and the host community.
Both agreements were signed by KSrelief’s Assistant Supervisor General for Operations and Programs Ahmed Al-Baiz at the center’s headquarters in Riyadh.
KSrelief continues humanitarian activities in Lebanon, Sudan
RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center’s (KSrelief) activities in Lebanon and Sudan continues, with its latest humanitarian and medical outreach for needy individuals.
In Lebanon, Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian agency distributed vouchers on Thursday, enabling beneficiaries to purchase winter clothing according to their needs from approved stores.
The latest undertaking benefited 520 individuals from Syrian and Palestinian refugee families, as well as host communities in Lebanon’s Naema and Sidon, as part of the center’s Kanaf-3 project for 2024.
The KSrelief-funded Souboul Al-Salam Association ambulance team in Miniyeh of northern Lebanon meanwhile carried out 38 ambulance missions from Nov. 8 to 14, which included transporting patients to and from hospitals and assisting individuals injured in road accidents.
In Sudan, a team of 13 specialist volunteers conducted orthopedic surgeries on Thursday for nine patients as part of the Kingdom’s effort to support the Sudanese people amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Saudi ambassador presents credentials to Cameroon’s president
- Ambassador Al-Ghamdi conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to President Biya
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Cameroon, Ibrahim Al-Ghamdi, on Saturday presented his credentials to President Paul Biya of Cameroon, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Ambassador Al-Ghamdi conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to President Biya, wishing the people of Cameroon and the government continued progress and prosperity.
