JEDDAH: The Indonesian Consulate in Jeddah refused on Wednesday to deal with sponsors or even allow them to enter the consulate to complete the procedures of their workers, including the renewal or issuance of passports. They queued for long hours at the front gate of the diplomatic mission as a result of such measures, a local newspaper reported.

According to Public Relations Officer Fouzi Hosni, the embassy justified such procedures and the strict and lengthy process by saying that some Indonesian workers have in their possession more than one passport, while others were using the passports of other persons.

Hosni said the procedures start with filing an application, then the applicant is subjected to the fingerprint process, face matching and then the data is sent for approval before renewing or issuing the passport.

He explained that sponsors were prevented from entering the consulate premises because of the limited space inside, while some other workers wanted to discuss some issues, such as the delay in paying salaries or other issues without the presence of their sponsors.

In a related issue, a number of Saudi citizens criticized the poor organization inside the consulate, saying that waiting number reach to more than 400 a day. They said this caused the crowding of maids and drivers outside the consulate premises for long hours under the burning sun, some coming from Makkah, Taif, Jeddah and Yanbu.

They also criticized the brokers working at nearby shops who offer their services in exchange for about SR2,000. The services, according to them include completing the procedures without the presence of the maid or driver and without long waiting on condition that all the necessary documents are provided correctly.