JEDDAH, 19 July 2004 — The number of employment visas issued by the Ministry of Labor has dropped by 56 percent in one month thanks to the ministry’s efforts to stem the inflow of foreign workers. It issued 23,015 visas from May 15-June 15 compared with 52,496 visas issued the previous month.
Deputy Minister for Labor Affairs Ahmad Al-Zamil attributed the drop to a series of measures adopted by the ministry over recent months to cut down the number of foreign workers coming to the Kingdom.
Last week, the ministry stopped the transfer of visas for workers without college and technical degrees. The ministry has recently taken over the responsibility for transferring visas — previously held by the Passports Department. Low-skilled workers will not be able to change from one sponsor to another. Transfer is now limited to holders of university and technical college degrees in a move aimed at increasing work opportunities for Saudis.
On Saturday, Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi issued a decision banning the sale of work permits in a crackdown on the exploitation of foreign workers.
Until now, Saudis were entitled to sponsor a number of workers, but many often made a profit by transferring them to businesses for sums greater than they originally paid.
Dr. Al-Gosaibi issued an order “prohibiting all forms of human trade such as the sale of work permits, obtaining money for employing workers or for entry or exit visas, residency and business licenses.”
Under the Kingdom’s employment law, foreign workers must have a Saudi sponsor to be able to get a work permit.
Saudization programs initiated by the government encourage local firms to hire more Saudis to help reduce the rate of unemployment and provide work for college and high school graduates whose numbers are on the rise.
The order by the minister also banned inhuman employment, inhuman and immoral treatment as well as employment of children and child exploitation. Saudis violating the order could be prosecuted as well as banned from sponsoring workers.
Dr. Al-Gosaibi had earlier said he was determined to end unemployment. “I stated when I was appointed minister that the ministry will adopt a 13-point program to combat the problem of unemployment. These include curbing foreign labor and raising the standards of Saudi labor,” he said.
The minister said he does not expect the problem of unemployment among Saudis to be overcome for at least three years and expressed the hope the period would not exceed nine years.
Figures from the Ministry of Finance’s department of statistics show that some 300,000 Saudis or 10 percent of the country’s work force are unemployed.
