RIYADH: The Ministry of Labor issued 847 temporary work permits to Syrians with visit visas over the last 11 days, an official from the ministry announced here on Monday.

The official said that such issuance of work permits is in accordance with a six-step move to implement the royal order to issue temporary work permits to Syrians aged 18 to 60 years, who are on a visit visa to the Kingdom.

The temporary permits are subject to renewal after six months for the continuation of providing facilities and services to them.

The issuance of temporary work permits is in accordance with the policy of the Labor Ministry to regulate the presence of visitors through the ministry’s electronic portal called “Ajeer.”

“The portal has already started receiving applications from Syrians who want to work in the Kingdom,” the official said.

The official said that those corporate bodies that need expatriates for employment can make use of this offer to hire these Syrian workers who are, invariably, bilingual.

The ministry took the opportunity to renew its call for action in case there are any questions about the system. Users have been requested to call 920002866, or via the customer service number 19911.

In February, the ministry announced that Syrians aged between 18 and 60 living in Saudi Arabia could apply for six-month work permits.

Khalid Aba-Alkhail, spokesperson at the Ministry of Labor, said Syrians with visit visas can benefit from this facility.

Applications must be made through the ministry’s electronic portal, he said. Since February, the portal started receiving applications from Syrians who want to work in the Kingdom.

“In accordance with the rules and procedures stipulated by the recent royal decree, Syrian expatriates can obtain these work visas without having to first get identification cards from the General Directorate of Passports,” Aba-Alkhail said.

The written consent of the host, stating clearly that he gives permission for the Syrian visitor to work for another party, is a prerequisite to benefit from this facility, he said.

He said applicants can log onto the ministry’s online Ajeer system to complete procedures.

The ministry established the Ajeer portal to address the shortage of expatriate workers in various economic sectors, and regulate and document workforce issues, including contracts of all kinds.

Both the employer and the host must be registered on the ministry’s Absher system to complete the application, he said.

Saudi Arabia has hosted around 2.5 million Syrians since the beginning of the crisis in that country in 2011, the Foreign Ministry has said.

Syrians have been leading a decent and normal life in the Kingdom like other expatriates. “The Kingdom does not deal with Syrian expatriates like refugees. They are living in a normal environment not in special camps,” an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.