The Ministry of Labor, working in tandem with the Ministry of Haj, has instructed domestic Haj companies licensed to provide services to domestic pilgrims’ to abide by the rules and regulations pertaining to employment of expatriate labor in preparing camps and cleaning works.

The instructions clearly state that these companies can only employ expatriates who have valid visas and licensed to work in professions registered in their work permits. Expatriates should also be working for their sponsors.

The Ministry of Labor asked the Ministry of Haj to make sure all companies and establishments abide by these rules to prevent any problems in their functioning during Haj. The ministry made it clear that it will conduct inspection campaigns to make sure that the instructions were implemented properly and to prevent violations. Violating companies will be subjected to penalties as stated in the labor law, the ministry said.

Former chairman of the National Haj and Umrah Committee Saad Jamil Al-Qurashi said domestic Haj companies had sought the help of more than 2,000 expatriates in preparing its camps at the holy sites. Expatriates are also employed for cleaning services inside the camps.

Al-Qurashi said that in the light of the new steps, the National Haj Committee was preparing a report seeking seasonal visas for expatriate labor for employment during the Haj season. This procedure has been successful in benefiting from sacrificial lamb meat, with transport companies that are supervised by the General Syndicate of Cars taking advantage of these seasonal visas.



Companies obtain seasonal visas to recruit expatriates and ensure their return at the end of the season. Companies can also find an alternative mechanism that allows internal labor lending, where companies can borrow their needs from other companies that suspend their businesses during the season.