Work permits issued by fake Saudi companies, commonly described as “free visas,” are being blamed for various malpractices in the Kingdom’s labour market.
The Saudi government has approved amendments to a law to ease the scope for rejecting recruitment applications, according to Arab News.
Nearly four million foreign workers have gone to the Kingdom for jobs on “free visas.”
“If any firm presented an application to the ministry or labour office providing fake information and was confirmed after inspection, all recruitment procedures for that firm will be stopped and the visas issued for that firm will be canceled,” the amended law said.
“The ministry will not issue work permits to those who have been recruited on such visas. Punitive action will be taken against errant firms under anti-forgery regulations and other related laws,” it added.
Thousands of Bangladesh nationals went to the Kingdom on free visas, which were arranged by some Saudis and a section of recruiting agents and their middlemen. Many of them have fled from their employers and their visas have expired. They are classified as “huroob.”
Workers usually only know the agent who has sold a visa and not the original sponsor. All such workers are now in search of their original sponsor in Saudi Arabia to take passport and sponsorship transfer forms but many have found that their names are being listed as “huroob.”
Worse, the middlemen cannot be contacted as they have switched off their mobile phones. These workers are seeking the help of their diplomatic missions.
“This comes in line with the ministry’s efforts to improve work atmosphere in the labor market and create more job opportunities for Saudi nationals,” Saudi Deputy Labour Minister Mufarrej Al-Haqabani said.
Al-Haqabani called on all companies to provide accurate data in their visa applications.
“This is another good move taken by the ministry to strengthen the labor market,” said Ibrahim Badawood, managing director of ALJ Community Initiatives.