Business & Money | Wednesday 27 May, 2015 8:26 am |

Anan Iskan, a Saudi company that specializes in building residential facilities for foreign workers, held an awareness seminar on workers’ rights and housing solutions.

The seminar came amid continuing concerns over slum conditions for workers in major cities all over the Kingdom, which continue to exist despite the booming economy and the relatively high returns earned by major Saudi corporations.

At the seminar, Faisal Alsayegh, Chief Executive Officer of Anan Iskan, discussed the issue of slums and squatting, saying that many foreign workers continue to shack up in abandoned, condemned buildings that lack even a modicum of safety and security.

Underlining the importance of support for workers’ villages and the enactment of clear-cut, specific regulations for the locations and specifications of workers’ living quarters, Alsayegh said that the failure to enact laws governing worker residency and poor societal awareness of worker rights add hardship to the daily lives of foreign workers, whether in terms of living environment or the repercussions of poor accommodations.

“Out of 8.2 million foreign workers in the Kingdom, 6.8 million who work for the private sector are more likely to live in squalid conditions, inhabiting slums and derelict, dilapidated buildings that lack even the most basic of facilities for decent living. Something must be done to change all that.” he added.

Through offering innovative, quality residential solutions designed specifically to accommodate workers with everything needed for a decent human lifestyle, Anan Iskan aims to change the prevailing culture to one founded on the idea of workers’ villages that provide comprehensive services to residents, including primary healthcare, the day-to-day requirements of life, and proper, comprehensive housing with varying levels of quality to suit clients’ needs, as well as other logistical services, all based on the highest international standards.

Anan Iskan’s commitment to excellence has earned it several ISO accreditations and a HACCP certificate for food safety. The company also has several certificates of endorsement from local and international companies and institutions, covering monitoring construction, maintenance, management, operation, catering and food safety standards.

Anan Iskan firmly believes that worker satisfaction is an essential element of job satisfaction, better productivity and corporate loyalty, all of which lead to business excellence and happier business owners.