Startling Saudi stats! Thirteen government employees die every day

Nearly 23,794 government employees have died during the past five years at a daily average of 13.4, Makkah Arabic daily said on Wednesday quoting a report by the Saudi Pension Fund.

The report further said 8,216 government employees, or a daily average of 11.6 employees, were retired during the past two years due to their inability to continue working.

According to the report, in 2010, as many as 4,317 government employees died. Subsequent years saw this number increase to 4,549 in 2011, 4,793 in 2012, 5,117 in 2013. A slight decrease from the previous year was recorded in 2014 with 5,018 deaths.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Service said in the event of death or incapacitating injury while on the job, a government employee will be paid cash compensation of SR100,000 ($26,656.36). It further said a government employee who is injured on the job, contracts a disease as a result of his job or while on his way to or from his job, is entitled to an 18-month, fully paid sick leave if the disease or injury temporarily prevents him from performing his duties.

The ministry said that the case of an employee who fails to return to work after a lengthy sick leave, will be considered by a special medical committee to decide whether to retire the employee or to extend the initial sick leave. If the employee is unable to return to work, he or she will be paid a monthly pension equivalent to about 80 percent of his/her last basic salary. If the committee decides to extend the sick leave beyond 18 months, the employee will be paid a pension equal to half his/ her last basic salary.

The ministry also said if the committee decides to treat the employee abroad, the government will pay for airfare and bear the costs of medication and treatment.