RIYADH, 20 November — The Kingdom is working on a plan which will ensure that no expatriate will receive a valid residence permit without subscribing to the social insurance system.
The move will help to provide social security benefits to a growing number of expatriates who have been working mainly in the private sector companies.
The move will help to provide benefits to the insured workers in cases of deaths or disabilities on account of injuries while on duty and occupational diseases.
The new plan will cover nearly seven million expatriates currently working in Saudi Arabia. Until now, the insurance coverage under the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) has not been made mandatory on all expatriate workers.
The GOSI, however, has stepped up its efforts to provide social security benefits to the foreign workers.
The GOSI, according to a report released by this social insurance organization, has already covered millions of workers in over 19,000 small enterprises, medium-size companies and big companies. These companies are currently operating in various parts of the country.
The report said that more than 20 million beneficiaries, including Saudis and expatriates, have already received social security benefits from GOSI.
Under GOSI’s current social security scheme, Saudi workers are entitled for monthly pension benefits and refund of their contributions, whereas expatriates are only entitled to occupational hazard benefits.
Referring to the GOSI’s services, the report said that this social insurance body is also a member of the International Social Security Association (ISSA), which appointed GOSI to undertake the huge task of translating, publishing and distributing the International Social Security Review (ISSR), which contains updated social security reports, surveys and research materials.
All these services offered by the GOSI comes in line with the directives of the Saudi government, which is genuinely interested in the welfare of its citizens and its expatriate workers. The GOSI, the report said, seeks to ensure protection under the social insurance act, which calls for benefits to be extended to the Saudi workers suffering from temporary disabilities, sickness and maternity.
It also offers other benefits to Saudi and foreign workers within the framework of its provisions.
It also covers the cost of medical treatment, offers compensation for partial or permanent disabilities, marriage grants and funeral expenses. The GOSI, an entity enjoying technical and administrative independence, has set up more than 17 chapters in various parts of the country.
