Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat – Saudi Minister of Labor, Dr. Ghazi al Ghosaibi expects the private sector to comply with the government’s request for companies to increase their salaries and match its own generous hike of 15% for employees in the private sector, both civilian and military.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Minister commended privately owned businesses in the Kingdom who headed his call and announced a salary review.

Al Ghosaibi had asked the Chambers of Commerce and Industry to encourage their members to increase salaries of their workforce according to rank. He felt confident the sector would seize on the chance to prove its sense of responsibility and willingly reward its employees.

This call follows an earlier royal decree raising salaries and privatizing a number of previously government-run businesses as well as increasing their assets as part of a five-year plan to improve their services.

The Minister explained that the government preferred not interfere “with private institutions or impose a minimum wage” because it believed their sense of obligation and nationalism would prevail over all other considerations.