Many shops in Taif have closed since the beginning of the Ministry of Labor raids on Monday.

Experts estimate that around 1,200 workers have stopped showing up for work and have chosen to remain in their houses for fear of getting arrested.

Mahmud Said, an Egyptian worker, said he preferred to stay at home, even though he needed to work urgently. “I don't want to take the risk of going to work, as my papers are still with my ex-sponsor,” he explained. “I wish I and other individuals in this similar predicament could be given a document that attests that we have submitted our papers to the authorities for processing, as that would protect me against arrest,” he added.