A majority of teachers has welcomed the proposed decision of the Ministry of Labor to issue work permits to wives and daughters of expatriates to work as teachers.

However, a source at the Ministry of Labor told Arab News that nothing has been approved with regard to issuing work permits to wives and daughters of expatriates in the Kingdom.

The source said that the ministry has not approved anything nor has there been any meeting in this regard, adding that they are just thinking on this line but nothing has come up yet.

School authorities said the decision of the Labor Ministry would solve many problems of schools and teachers to become legalized.

Sadiya Kaleem, principal of Al–Hukma International School, said: “All the schools are facing problems of regularizing female staff. They are easily available, and are working in these schools for a long time. If schools have to bring in teachers from outside of the Kingdom, it will cost a lot as they will have to sponsor their husbands as mahram (sponsor).”

Rubila Rathore, principal of Al-Biladi International School, said she would welcome any such line of thinking by the Labor Ministry pertaining to the issuance of work permits to wives and daughters of expatriates.

“If schools have to bring in teachers from abroad they will have to bring in their families as well which will increase the cost of hiring, and schools will have to increase fees, which many students just cannot afford,” she said.

Dr. Padma Hariharan, director and head of Novel International Group of Institutions, said that issuing work permits to wives would be a very wise decision.