Saudis struggle to rectify workers’ status

With just seven days to go until the grace period ends, Saudis are struggling to get their workers' status rectified.
Wael Al-Badawi had to go through a long process to rectify the status of his private driver. Because he worked during government hours, he hired a liaison officer (mandoub) to follow up on his application.
“Because there is such a high demand now for mandoubs, he neglected my application. I then sent my wife but also to no avail. So I took two days off from work, but failed to get a number because the line was too long for me to wait, especially since there were people who were 'stationed' there.”
“I decided to go at early dawn but then found people who had come at midnight, so I went back home. But with the deadline for the end of the amnesty period approaching fast, I went along with a cousin who wanted to normalize the status of his domestic helper. We had to wait all night.”
“I do need to keep my driver. He has worked for me long enough to know all my habits. I really don't need to bring a new one who will have to start anew and who knows nothing about me,” he said.
Sultan Al-Shahrani, who owns a laundry shop, faced the same problem. “I really feel very upset at those mandoubs. They don't seem to be aware of the gravity of the situation and the damage they can cause people who trust them with their applications,” he said.
“Can you believe that they are in such high demand that they now command SR 13,000 for their services?” he said.
The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry earlier mobilized a number of people to help expedite procedures. It erected a tent to help accommodate the large number of Saudi and foreign applicants.