Coronavirus: Saudi private sector staff told to work from home for 15 days
March 18, 2020, 10:35 am

Coronavirus: Saudi private sector staff told to work from home for 15 days

Visitors walk near the King Fahd Library, following an outbreak of coronavirus, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia announced on Wednesday new rules for private sector businesses to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, in an update to the “remote-work” guideline issued on Monday. Coronavirus

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development instructed private sector establishments to suspend work for 15 days, and instead activate remote work procedures, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The measures also include reducing the number of employees in offices to essential staff immediately for the smooth conduct of work and the availability of supply chains, while ensuring they abide by the precautionary measures set by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health.

The instructions exempted some key sectors from the new rules.

Vital infrastructure sectors such as electricity, water and communications have been exempted.

Health and food services personnel have also been exempted from this rule, according to the report.

Moreover, 14 days of compulsory leave must be granted for pregnant and lactating women, those suffering from respiratory diseases, those with immunodeficiency diseases, cancer patients, and those above 55 years of age. Coronavirus

Private sector establishments that provide utility services to government agencies must coordinate with those bodies before suspending attendance at workplaces.

Those coming into work should have their temperature taken and safe distance should be maintained among them at all times, adhering to necessary precautionary measures set by the Ministry of Health. levant

source: N.P. Krishna Kumar levant

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”