Expats visit consulates to find jobs

The new sponsorship system and amnesty period has helped many expats find job opportunities.
When the new sponsorship system was implemented a few months ago, many expats began working on legalizing their status, while others sought employment. In addition, prominent companies were on the hunt for suitable employees at consulates.
Abdullah Al-Sharabi, a Yemeni driver who left his original sponsor three years ago, has been searching for a new sponsor but without success since they all demand large sums of money for sponsoring expats.
“I heard from my Yemeni friends and relatives that many local and international companies had contacted the consulate to ask for employees. These companies were offering good salaries and were ready to transfer sponsorships without demanding payments,” he said.
“I found offers from two companies looking for drivers. The first is a Saudi pharmaceutical company and the other one is a retail company. Both offered a SR3,000 salary, which included the medical insurance and house payment.” Ten of Al-Sharabi’s friends were also seeking jobs and have found sponsors and jobs in several companies.
Bea Donald, a Filipino illegal worker at a catering company, went to her consulate to find a job, prompted by five of her friends who had found jobs this way.
“Many companies were sending their commissaries to the consulate, asking people if they seek jobs or sponsors. I found three offers to work in hospitality, wedding hall kitchens or sweet factories. The payments were different, but I chose the best offer at a salary of SR3,500 and two bonus salaries at the end of the year,” she said.
Some expat workers said they found opportunities with private companies that had contacted the consulates, while others received random offers through company commissaries who had come to scout for employees at the consulates.
Many expats working for companies under their sponsorship found the amnesty period a good opportunity to change jobs. Some were looking for high-profile companies and better pay, while transferring their sponsorship for free.
“I visited the consulate during the first amnesty period to see what kind of jobs my friends were talking about. In the beginning, I didn’t believe my friends when they said they were preparing their CVs to find jobs through consulates. However, after I found that two of my colleagues went to other company and didn’t pay any fees for sponsorship, I followed their lead and submitted my CV,” said Ahmad Azeem, a Pakistani sales representative at an international retail company.
“Both legal and illegal workers have benefitted from the new labor system and the facilitations of government and private companies.”