The meeting, which was organized by Asharqia Chamber, called for linking money transfers with sponsorship to prevent expatriate workers from running away from their sponsors. “This will also help prevent thefts,” the meeting added.

The participants also recommended that foreign workers who run away from their sponsors should be deported at the expense of their countries’ embassies.

Saleh Al-Sayyed, chairman of the contracting committee at the chamber, presided over the meeting, which was attended by a number of businessmen including Fahd Al-Sharie, the chamber’s deputy chairman.

The meeting discussed a number of important subjects including the need to unify Saudization at 5 percent of the recruitment visas that are required by small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Al-Sayyed urged the Labor Ministry to issue the required number of visas on the basis of recommendation letters issued by the various government departments without reducing the number of visas. “The labor office should also note the nationalities and professions mentioned in the applications,” he said. The meeting said companies should be given compensation visas for runaway workers.

The participants also called for giving labor offices greater powers to decide on applications and unify the documents required for visa applications at all offices across the Kingdom. “The papers should be restricted to official documents related to the company,” the meeting said, calling for reducing bureaucratic procedures.

The labor office should reply to the applications within a week and its reply should not be based on personal criteria and judgments.

The meeting urged the Labor Ministry to publish a booklet on various regulations and procedures on its website, which should be updated every year. The website should also have a system whereby the public will be able to follow up their applications and know whether their works have been done or not.

It also called for linking the Passport Department with the labor office, the office for expatriates and the Foreign Ministry.