The Ministry of Labor has intensified its inspection of Haj seasonal visas granted to recruit temporary workers from abroad for Haj services. It is the first time that the ministry is focusing on such visas.

The seasonal visas for Haj workers have so far been largely misused by some of local business organizations; however, the scene has changed from this year as the ministry is focusing on it.

Authorities have discovered that some foreigners are arriving with Haj seasonal employment visas, mainly to perform Haj.

“We found 5,706 violations till Saturday, committed by foreign workers arriving in the Kingdom to work as seasonal workers for the Haj season,” Abdullah Abu Tinin, head of inspection teams of the Ministry of Labor, said on Sunday.

He added that the Ministry of Labor’s inspection teams have found that some of these workers are working contrary to their specific job description for which they have been recruited and brought into Kingdom. Some of the expatriates holding seasonal worker visas have come to perform Haj.

Abu Tinin stated that King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah Islamic Port, Duba Port and Halat Al-Ammar in Tabuk region, Tuwail Seaport in Jazan region and different land entry points were inspected by the ministry’s teams to check the temporary workers.

All expatriate workers, including seasonal workers, are being dealt with firmly in the context of violations, he said, adding that the ministry will also not spare anyone found not rendering proper Haj related services.

Abu Tinin stated that the ministry also is inspecting employers of these workers to check accommodation, food and other facilities.

According to him, the Ministry of Labor has established an exclusive observation office in Makkah to monitor and follow up the labor violations during Haj.

Meanwhile, Abdul Monem Al-Shaheri, director at the Makkah regional office of the Ministry of Labor, met with Abu Tinin at the ministry’s observation office in the holy city to review the labor violations committed by expatriate workers during Haj.

There are complaints that the seasonal workers brought for Haj related jobs often violate labor norms and also some of them come with the intention of performing Haj.