Most Saudi-born children of expats who are above the age of 25 prefer to remain dependents and provide some evidence to prove that they are still studying mainly because they would be able to renew their residence permits (iqamas) and avoid transferring their sponsorship.
Quite a few Saudi-born expats would like to avoid what they term as complications of the Nitaqat system, which makes it mandatory for them to seek employment in private “green” category companies. “It is difficult for us to find a job in the private sector and transfer our sponsorships,” they say.
Many of the Saudi-born expats, particularly graduates, have resorted to various means to prove that they are still studying mainly because most private companies are not willing to absorb them, and instead are opting to recruit fresh foreign labor.
This situation has forced many of them to believe that proving to the authorities that they are still students is the best option available to continue living with their parents.
However, the Ministry of Labor announced on Tuesday that Saudis who hire dependents of expatriates under their sponsorship will have to transfer these workers back to their original sponsors if they terminate their contracts. But the main problem still is how to find jobs in private companies located in the green zone that can transfer dependents’ sponsorships.
“I am working in a private company that claims it is in the red category, and refusing to transfer my sponsorship. Following this, I have admitted myself in a course to prove that I am student in a language school to enable me to renew my residence permit,” Ali Ibrahim, who was born in the Kingdom and works in a private company, said.
“The main problem is how do I find a job in a private company to transfer my sponsorship. I know there are new concessions for all dependents of expatriates, including reverting to our original sponsor after termination of work contracts. However, many private companies are more interested in recruiting fresh foreign labor from abroad and there are few companies who give us priority,” Hussain Abdullah, a Syrian resident, said.
Fadal Abu Ainain, a business expert and financial adviser of a number of private companies, said: “The Ministry of Labor must not allow the recruitment of expat workers from abroad … There are a lot of expats who are already living in the Kingdom and need to legalize their status with the private sector.”
Saudi-born expats prefer to stay on as dependents
