Hundreds of Pakistani construction workers are to fly home from Saudi Arabia this week but without the salaries they have waited months to receive, embassy officials said.
Expatriates in Saudi Arabia and their Saudi employers alike voiced unease about a proposal the government is studying to impose income tax on foreign workers to make up for falling oil revenues.
Saudi Binladin Group, which has laid off tens of thousands of employees because of financial difficulties, said on Monday it has begun paying delayed wages to its remaining staff.
The $23bn Riyadh Metro will be completed on schedule in 2019 and its budget is ring-fenced, a senior official said, quashing speculation the project could be scaled back or delayed following a slump in Saudi Arabia's oil revenues.
