Maid fails to get exit visa after sponsor’s death

By GALAL FAKKAR | ARAB NEWS

JEDDAH: Lawyers and human rights activists have demanded changes to sponsorship rules after a housemaid in Taif was reportedly denied a final exit visa after the death of her sponsor.

Taif passport police were alleged to have told the Asian maid to transfer sponsorship to her employer’s son before she could leave the Kingdom.

Lawyers have slammed the decision and said housemaids should be granted a final exit visa if their sponsor dies.

Jeddah Law Center Chairman Awad Al-Hibaili is among those calling for changes to sponsorship rules. “Authorities should give the employee the option to go home on a final exit visa or to transfer sponsorship,” he said.

Al-Hibaili said in the past, only three companies in the Kingdom handled the recruitment of foreign housemaids. He added that there was one in Riyadh, one in Jeddah and another in the Eastern Province.

Al-Hibaili claimed that under this system it was easy to resolve many foreign labor problems.

He said the housemaid in Taif would have been allowed to go home had this old framework still been in place.

A source at the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) said the organization had submitted a study to the government with recommendations on reforming the sponsorship system. “If adopted, the recommendations contained in the study will end many of the problems resulting from the current system,” he said.

Websites covering the housemaid’s story reported that she had become hysterical when she was refused the final exit visa.

It was further revealed that any transfer of the iqama to the late sponsor’s son would only be completed when he brings two witnesses to testify that his father had agreed to the switch before his death.

The son also confirmed that passport police in Taif had refused to give the maid a final exit visa unless she transferred her sponsorship. “I tried my best to end her predicament but the passport authorities refuse to allow her back home unless her iqama is transferred to my name,” he said.

Comments

MOHAMMED

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This exit visa rule is exclusive to KSA. And this is a totally ridiculous rule. Why can't they just abolish this whole exit re entry thing. Let the people leave whenever they want. Not everyone is going to run away. I am sure majority come here to stay. This fear among Saudis is just awful.

NADEEM

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In many islamic countries, rules and regulations does not match with Islamic ideologies in labor issues specialy in Middle East.

YR

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what a shame. r we living in 21st century?

ZAFAR ALI

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I think, the maid should be allowed to go on final exit, if her sponsor is dead, that means his sponsors son has no right to stop her.
You have not purchased the life of your maids.
This is an open Human Rights Violation act, and we much condemn this cruel act and raise our voice.

AYUB, USA

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This poor woman worked very hard and now the authority refused her exit to her native country. It is not her fault that the sponsor died. Have some sense, oh human being. You ignored her sufferring, where is compassion, the Saudi Passport Authority. Wake up please and have common sense. Keep in your mind that, her family, children, husband are waiting for her return. You have no sympathy in your heart. Fear Allah for the judgement day!
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