Visa violators face punitive action

JEDDAH: The Shoura Council yesterday passed a law banning expatriates from working for companies and individuals other than their employers or sponsors.
Punitive action would be taken against Saudi sponsors and companies who allow foreigners to work for other employers, the new law said.
The Shoura also passed a draft law that incriminates those who employ visa violators or leave their employees to work on their own or for others or use the workers of other sponsors. Violators face jail sentences not more than five years.
The Shoura decisions augur well with the Labor Ministry’s efforts to regulate job market and create more employment opportunities for Saudis. It also supports the government’s move to crack down on coverup businesses.
The consultative body approved a draft law with 14 articles to deal with expatriates who violate the Kingdom’s regulations including those who overstay Haj and Umrah visas.
“Security agencies shall arrest those who employ expatriates who violate Saudi law as well as those who allow their employees to work for their personal accounts,” the new law said.
According to the draft law, police can arrest those who hide, shelter or transport violators or provide them with any form of assistance as well as those who did not inform authorities about the delay in departure of people whom they brought. “The violators who came on Haj, Umrah and visit visas (and working for individuals and companies) would be deported at the expense of those who employ them,” the law said.
According to the amended Article 39 of the Saudi Labor Law, “An employer is not allowed to leave his employee to work for others, while an employee is not allowed to work for another employer, without following the necessary procedures.”
The Labor Ministry inspectors shall visit companies and institutions to find out violators of the law and hand them over to the Interior Ministry for action. The Shoura agreed to abolish Article 233 of the Labor Law that includes punishment to those who violate Article 39.