MAKKAH, 9 February 2003 — Sixty percent of Haj institutions employ overstayers to do Haj-related jobs, Al-Madinah newspaper reported yesterday.
The report said this was due to the low wages overstayers receive and the reluctance of companies to train and employ Saudis.
There are 258 Haj institutions, down from 460 last season. They need more than 30,000 workers whose combined wage bill is SR3 million. Their main job is cleaning, maintenance work, cooking and pilgrim guidance.
One of these overstayers who sneaked in through the Yemen border said: “I came here to find a job. I know how to cook”. He also said that the salaries here range between SR700 and SR1,200.
Another Sudanese overstayer said that he found a job during Haj cleaning dishes for SR900. He said: “It is not hard to find a job during the Haj season, I worked here last year in this Haj institution and I have good relationship with them”.
Ayman Al-Seraj, manager of a Haj institution, said that Haj institutions need more than 30,000 people for work. It is a huge number, but we need them”.
He said Haj institutions here are not authorized to employ overstayers and pilgrims with Haj visas. He urged officials to find a solution for his problem in order for Haj institutions to work efficiently.
Haj Minister Iyad Madani said that the local Haj institutions are obliged to employee five Saudis for every 100 first time pilgrims during this Haj.
