In May 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, some companies in Saudi Arabia were forced to stop work, others suspended workers' payment partially or in full.

Among those impacted were private school teachers from Jordan and Egypt whose salaries were suspended or who were forced to leave despite pay, despite the fact school had already received students' fees.

Other companies forced employees into unpaid leave. Dairy company Almarai, was named by Middle East Eye as a company who had "decided to expel employees or reduce salaries". Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Almarai to respond to the allegations and invited them to provide information on the steps they had taken to ensure the welfare of any workers for whom they had reduced salaries. The company did not respond.