The Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) wants the government to enforce an almost 40-year-old Cabinet decision to ban expatriate workers for three years if they violate their contracts.

Mansoor bin Abdullah Al-Shathry, a RCCI board member and head of its human resources committee, said on Sunday that the Cabinet issued decision No. 826 in 1395H (1975).

It bans expatriate workers from re-entering the Kingdom on a new work contract for three years, and fines them SR10,000, if they violate their contracts with previous Saudi employers, which includes leaving the country before the end of their contracts.

Al-Shathry told Arab News that RCCI members met with Usama bin Ahmad Al-Sunusi, deputy minister for consular affairs at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, to argue for the proposal. “We will convey the same demand to the Ministries of Interior and Labor until the decision is enforced.”

If the proposal is implemented it would stop expatriate workers from abusing Saudi employers. He said many foreign workers arrive in the Kingdom, work for some time, make excuses to go home, and never return.

“They then return to the Kingdom on a new contract with another employer for higher pay. This definitely harms Saudi employers and the local labor market. We want to stop this,” he said.

Al-Shathry said some consulates support these workers and threaten Saudi employers that they would not get any workers if they press for compensation.

He said that the RCCI members also informed Al-Sunusi about the “tricks” of foreign recruitment agencies, which includes sending workers not selected for jobs. These recruitment firms would also charge these workers excessive fees, resulting in them behaving in an “inappropriate manner” in the Kingdom.

Al-Shathry said that Al-Sunusi promised to consider the matter, and organize workshops with the private sector to help streamline the labor market in the country.