JEDDAH, 7 March — Jail sentences of up to three months and fines ranging from SR5,000 to SR30,000 were meted out to 48 Saudis found helping foreigners in violation of the country’s immigration and employment laws.
The sentences were issued by special committees recently set up by the Passports Department to deal with cases involving Saudis illegally employing or providing housing to foreigners. The largest number of the violators — 30 of the total number — were found in the Western Region.
In Riyadh only one citizen was penalized. He was jailed for one month and fined SR5,000 for transporting a foreigner who overstayed his Umrah visa in search of work.
The administrative committees were formed following a nationwide campaign in 1997 and 1998 that was designed to rid the country of overstayers who mostly enter as pilgrims but stay on to look for work. By the end of the drive, some one million illegal workers were expelled.
During the campaign, the cases of thousands of foreign workers who carry valid residence permits but were working with sponsors other than the original ones were rectified.
Meetings were held between representatives of private businesses and government officials to review the plan. Officials say illegal workers adversely affect the economy and take jobs away from Saudis at a time when the Kingdom is trying to find more jobs for its own citizens.
Osama Al-Kurdi, secretary-general of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said the main objective of such campaigns was to protect the local market from problems associated with unlicensed industries and restructure the labor market.
