RIYADH, 11 April 2007 — The illegal trade in work visas has become active lately, especially since construction contractors were given the ability to bring large numbers of foreign laborers into the Kingdom, according to Al-Riyadh newspaper.
A number of building contractors, who requested anonymity, said that the prices of visas reach up to SR7,000 at wholesale rate and could be doubled if sold to individuals, especially to workers from the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
The contractors added that the illegal trade has flourished due to the visa facilities afforded by the Ministry of Labor to building contractors that handle government projects.
“Even though the Ministry of Labor is strict in monitoring the market, some people still manage to find ways to flout the regulations. There are some contractors who cannot fulfill the government projects they are awarded and so sell them through illegal channels to other contractors for 5 to 10 percent of the contract’s value,” said a building contractor in Riyadh.
“Usually, before selling the contract, they sell the visas that come with the contract. This causes problems to the sub-contractors who actually execute the project,” he added.
Meanwhile, employees at various construction companies have complained about their employers, who they allege waste government projects and instead concentrate on selling visas.
Hazim Hasan, an Egyptian engineer, said that he and his colleagues have not received their salaries for the last five months. He added that this was because his employers had sold their visas and were no longer working on any projects.
“I have complained to the Labor Office in Riyadh. Our case is currently under investigation. My company used to be successful. Over time they’ve shifted into selling work visas, something that is more profitable with less hassle,” he added.
