Saudi- Female cleaners strike work

(MENAFN- Arab News) DAMMAM: Saudi women cleaners at schools in the Eastern Province have decided to stop working here because they allegedly have to do more work for the same pay.
The workers who earn monthly incomes of between SR600 and SR800 claimed that their demands have not been taken into account for the past six years a local publication reported Friday.
'The situation has become unbearable I get SR800 a month and now have to work longer hours and have a bigger load. There are no extra bonuses or change in our situation' said Umm Mohammad.
She said that cleaners must be considered an integral part of the school staff and not be classified as workers that are funded out of the "School Fund."
Another worker said that many stopped working last week while others have left. Several depend on gifts from teachers to supplement their meager income she said.
Muna Suliman head of a school teaching Qur'an in Dammam said that she was surprised that the women stopped working. They were workers remunerated out of the "Student Fund" or "School Fund" she said.
'After we received new instructions about a greater focus on cleanliness in the school environment and toilets the work of the cleaners increased and some of them stopped working.' She said school principals do not have the power to give them more money and because the school needs the resources for other expenses.
Another principal who preferred anonymity said the women launched their protest when instructions were issued that schools should take extra precautions because of the threat from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus.
She said the matter would now have to be dealt with by the region's education department. Money from a student fund can only be disbursed based on official notification she said.