Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — The Ministry of Interior on Tuesday announced penalties for violation of social gathering protocols by workers with gathering of five or more people in places other than their accommodation.

A maximum of SR100,000 in fine will be slapped on companies and establishments or their officials; and up to SR10,000 for individual workers for the violation. The violators will be deported and will be barred from reentering the Kingdom.

According to the ministry statement, the violations include crowding of five or more workers in a specific place that is not associated with their residential place. These include houses, buildings under construction, rest houses, farms or similar facilities other than their accommodation.

The following penalties will be slapped on the violators:

First time violation: SR50,000 in fine for the firm or the concerned official; and SR5,000 in fine for individuals involved in the violation of attending the gathering or inviting to attend or causing the attendance.

Second time violation: SR100,000 in fine for the establishment or the concerned official; and SR10,000 in fine for individuals involved in the violation of attending the gathering or inviting to attend or causing the attendance.

Third time violation: Doubling the penalty on the official and referring him to the Public Prosecution. Workers who attended gathering or causing the attendance will also be referred to the Public Prosecution.

In case of the repetition of the violation for the first time, the private sector firm will be closed for a period of three months, and if it is repeated for the second time, it will be closed for six months. If the violator is an expatriate, he will be deported from the Kingdom and will be barred from reentering the Kingdom.

The ministry urged the public to inform it about any illegal gathering by making a call to the toll free number 999 in all regions of the Kingdom and 991 in Makkah region.