Ministry of Social Affairs Tightens Supervisory Measures to Protect National Labor in Cooperatives

The Ministry of Social Affairs, represented by its Financial and Administrative Affairs and Cooperation Sector, is moving to tighten its supervisory and punitive measures against the boards of directors of cooperative societies that violate the regulations and procedures for employing national workers in cooperatives. This aims to ensure the protection of these workers and safeguard their employment rights, while countering any practices or decisions that may involve injustice or arbitrariness against them by the cooperative boards.

Sources at the Ministry confirmed that these measures come under the direct guidance and follow-up of the Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood, Dr. Amal Al-Huwaili, and follow the Ministry’s receipt of several complaints from national workers in cooperatives alleging workplace arbitrariness. The sources emphasized that these measures are part of the Ministry’s commitment to enhancing job security for these citizens and ensuring a stable work environment based on justice and compliance with the laws and regulations governing work, free from any arbitrary individual practices that could affect their rights and stability.

The sources told Al-Jarida that the Ministry is working to activate its supervisory and administrative tools to handle complaints and violations reported by national workers in cooperatives, or those identified and documented by its appointed inspectors and field inspection teams. They stressed that the Ministry will not tolerate such issues and will take a series of punitive legal measures against non-compliant boards or those insisting on failing to rectify violations.

Among these measures are the suspension of signature authorization and the issuance of judicial reports, up to taking stricter actions that may include decisions to dismiss board members or dissolve the board of directors in cases of obstinacy and failure to rectify violations, in order to prevent the abuse of administrative authority to harm employees or infringe upon their rights.

The sources indicated that the Cooperative Work Regulations issued by Ministerial Decision No. 196 of 2026 prohibit cooperative boards from terminating the services of national workers or canceling their contracts without prior approval from the Ministry. They noted that this supervisory approach aims to consolidate the principles of accountability and responsibility, emphasizing that managing cooperatives requires adherence to legislation and ministerial decisions, respecting the rights of employees, especially citizens, and avoiding arbitrary employment decisions outside legal frameworks.

The sources reiterated that ensuring job security for national workers is a priority for the Ministry, as it is one of the fundamental pillars for supporting citizen participation in the cooperative sector, enhancing trust in the work environment, and ensuring they are not subjected to any pressure. They confirmed that the coming phase will see more precise monitoring of the performance of cooperative boards and verification of their compliance with instructions and regulations, particularly those related to the employment of citizens, thereby achieving a balance between administrative powers and employee rights.