RIYADH, 3 December 2007 — The slow response from concerned government agencies, bureaucracy and the manner in which unskilled laborers receive their visas abroad were the three main points raised at a forum discussing labor problems in the Kingdom here yesterday.
Four representatives from the Interior Ministry, the Ministry of Labor, the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) got together to discuss the issue at the NSHR-organized event.
Speaking at the forum, entitled “The rights of citizens and laborers under the labor law — problems and solutions,” Col. Omar Al-Harbi, head of the laborers’ section at the Passport Directorate, said there was a major problem in coordination between concerned government bodies, including the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Commerce and the Passport Department.
“There must be better coordination between these government bodies,” said Al-Harbi, who represented the Interior Ministry. He added that bureaucracy in concerned government departments was another obstacle in the way of finding speedy solutions to labor problems.
“We must combat routine. It is found in various government ministries. And speaking frankly, it is also be found in the Interior Ministry,” he said.
Another major problem discussed was the need to re-evaluate the ways in which work visas are issued. Al-Harbi noted that many recruitment offices abroad sell Saudi visas as a form of business. This, he said, results in unskilled laborers arriving in the Kingdom.
The official, however, said that labor problems in Saudi Arabia were the result of both the employer and employee not abiding by the contract provisions or the law.
Waleed Al-Suwaidan, head of the recruitment section at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, suggested that concerned authorities unify the contract that is signed by laborers.
“There should be one unified labor contract for those arriving to work in the Kingdom. Until we do not come up with this unified contract, labor problems will persist,” he said.
Another point raised by the RCCI official was the need to provide insurance for laborers. “No laborer arrives in Saudi Arabia today without an insurance contract in his country. However, when he gets here, no insurance is provided... An insurance scheme should be there in which compensation could be provided to the employer or the laborer in case any of the parties do not stick to the contract,” he said.
However, Muhammad Al-Duwaish, head of the legal department at the Ministry of Labor, said having a unified contract would be difficult. “It is difficult to arrange a unified contract for all laborers arriving in the Kingdom. Different jobs are involved,” he said.
On the issue of laborers staying for days or weeks in detention prior to deportation, Al-Harbi said the Passport Department is not to be blamed. He said the problem was with the employers, who do not show up to receive their laborers or resolve their problems.
“We have explicit rules regarding laborers at deportation centers,” he said, adding that passport authorities often end up looking for employers, who have not updated their contact information.
Vice President of the NSHR Dr. Mufleh Al-Kahtani said workers are held virtual prisoners under the current sponsorship law in Saudi Arabia.
“Nothing is done without the approval of the sponsor. The laborer cannot get a driver’s license, travel or even get medical treatment without the approval of the employer,” he said.
He said that foreigners should have free access to officials in court in the same way the locals do. “There is a lack of trust between the two parties (the employer and the employee),” he said.
The human rights official said the NSHR was in the process of finding an alternative solution to the current sponsorship law in Saudi Arabia to be raised to the leadership in the Kingdom for approval.
