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Fines, jail, deportation for iqama & labor law violation
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 9:39 pm    Post subject: Fines, jail, deportation for iqama & labor law violation Reply with quote

(Edited with an updated and complete article)

KSA toughens stance on illegals
By P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News | 16 April 2014
Source: http://www.arabnews.com/news/555891

JEDDAH---Saudi Arabia on Monday announced tough punishment for expats violating the country’s residency, labor and business regulations. Punishment includes fines up to SR100,000, a jail term for up to two years, a recruitment ban and deportation.

The move targets foreigners who have come to the Kingdom on work, visit, Haj and Umrah visas, and have overstayed their visas, the Interior Ministry said. “Punishment will be increased depending on the number of violations and individuals involved, while violating expats will be deported and prevented from entering the Kingdom for a specific period,” the ministry said in a statement. “Those arrested for violations will not be released, even on bail.” Administrative panels at the Passport Department will determine the violations. "People will have the right to appeal against the panel’s decision to the interior minister within 30 working days following the issuance of the decision,” the statement said. A special legal panel at the ministry will look into such appeals and provide the minister with their proposals.

Expats working independently will be fined SR10,000 and deported if the violation is committed for the first time, while second-time offenders will be fined SR25,000, jailed for one month and deported and third-time offenders will incur a SR50,000 fine, a six-month jail and deportation, the statement said.

Expats overstaying their visas after they have expired for the first time will be fined SR15,000 and deported, while second-time offenders will be liable to pay SR25,000, spend three months in jail and face deportation. Third-time overstayers, meanwhile, will incur a SR50,000 fine, a six-month jail term and deportation.

Saudis and expats have welcomed the ministry’s statement, saying it would strengthen the Kingdom’s security and stability. “The Interior Ministry’s decision compliments the Labor Ministry’s efforts to flush out illegals and regulate the labor market,” said Ibrahim Badawood, managing director of ALJ Community Initiatives. “The punishments issued by the ministry show that they are very serious on the issue. The punishment covers not only expats, but also companies and individual employers,” he said. “Now, employers will think twice before hiring or sheltering an illegal expat,” Badawood said. He said the government’s move would also address the “tasattur” (cover-up businesses) phenomenon and other illegal activities. “Some sponsors have recruited many expats and they don’t know what their workers are doing. This is a serious issue and the new punishments will definitely reduce such illegal operations,” he said.

The ministry said intruders held outside the border will be fined SR15,000 and deported after serving a one-month jail sentence. Second time violators will be fined SR25,000, jailed three months and deported, while third-time or more offenders will have to pay SR100,000 fine and serve six months in jail before deportation.

Those who transport, employ and shelter intruders will be fined SR25,000, jailed for six months and deported if expats. Their vehicles will be seized if the violation is committed for the first time. Second-time violators will be fined SR50,000, jailed for one year, deported, shamed and have their vehicle confiscated, while third-time offenders will be liable to pay a SR100,000 fine, face a two-year jail and be deported. The ministry said all those who transport, shelter or employ violators of the Kingdom’s laws will be fined SR15,000 and deported (if expat); second-time violators will be fined SR30,000, deported and jailed for 3 months. Third-time offenders, meanwhile, will pay a SR100,000 fine and serve a six-month jail sentence before being deported.

An individual employer who allows his workers to work for others or for their personal accounts will be fined SR15,000 and deported (if expat) and prevented from recruitment for one year. For the second-time violators, the punishments are: a SR30,000 fine, deportation, three-month jail and ban on recruitment for two years; third time and more: SR100,000 fine, deportation, six-month jail and ban on recruitment for five years.

Expats who fail to report delays in the departure of overstaying employees will be fined SR15,000 and face deportation (if expat) for the first time, SR25,000, jail for three months and deportation the second time, and SR50,000, a six-month jail term and deportation the third time. The ministry said that companies and organizations that fail to inform authorities about Haj or Umrah overstayers would be fined SR25,000 the first time round, SR50,000 the second time and SR100,000 the third time round or any time after that.

Meanwhile, institutions that employ intruders will be fined SR50,000 the first time such an offense is committed, in addition to being banned from recruiting employees for an entire year. The manager will be jailed for six months and deported if he is an expat. Second time offenders will incur a SR75,000 fine and a recruitment ban for two years, in addition to the manager being jailed for one year and deported. Third time offenders will be liable to pay SR100,000 fine, face a recruitment ban for five years and face a two-year jail term and deportation.

Institutions that employ violators of residency and labor laws or allow their workers to work for other employers, independently or employ employees from other companies will be fined SR25,000, banned from recruitment for a year and have the expat manager deported; second time SR50,000 fine, recruitment ban for two years with shaming, and the manager will be jailed for six months and deported; and third time and more: SR100,000 fine, recruitment ban for five years with shaming and the manager will be jailed for a year and deported.

(End of article)


Last edited by nomad soul on Wed Apr 16, 2014 7:47 am; edited 2 times in total
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plumpy nut



Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652

PostPosted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 5:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Run EdEx employees, run run. Actually I don't think they're going to start focusing on illegal Westerners.

Last edited by plumpy nut on Sun May 04, 2014 4:14 am; edited 1 time in total
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teacherwhy16?



Joined: 09 Mar 2014
Posts: 16

PostPosted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 1:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is it legal to teach on a work visit visa? Does that violate any of the laws above (assuming it is renewed on time, etc.)
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scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

PostPosted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 2:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

No such thing as a "work visit visa". Contractors who use this scam get you a BUSDINESS VISA which states clearly "EMPLOYMENT IN KSA PROHIBITED"

You will be in a similar position to an illegal alien in the US, but the US authorities are a bit nicer with offenders..
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cmp45



Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA

PostPosted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 2:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

work visit visa Shocked Laughing

Do so at your own peril. ( is this correct wording?)
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teacherwhy16?



Joined: 09 Mar 2014
Posts: 16

PostPosted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 2:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Scot....really? I am looking at this page.

http://www.saudiarabiavisa.co.uk/visa-types-to-saudi.html

Are one and two not for use for teachers?
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cmp45



Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA

PostPosted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 3:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

teacherwhy16? wrote:
Scot....really? I am looking at this page.

http://www.saudiarabiavisa.co.uk/visa-types-to-saudi.html

Are one and two not for use for teachers?


Saudi Working Visitor Visa :This visa shall allow you to work in Saudi Arabia for up to 180 days. You will require a working visit visa invitation specifically from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is normal for occupations such as airline pilots and oil industry workers

Color me purple there is such a visa. Guess they forgot to add Teachers.
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trapezius



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Land of Culture of Death & Destruction

PostPosted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 3:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
You will require a working visit visa invitation specifically from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


teacherwhy16? do you have an invitation from the MOFA?
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 4:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

trapezius wrote:
Quote:
You will require a working visit visa invitation specifically from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

teacherwhy16? do you have an invitation from the MOFA?

My guess is that it's from the Ministry of Dodgy Contracting Companies. Razz
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teacherwhy16?



Joined: 09 Mar 2014
Posts: 16

PostPosted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

trapezius wrote:
Quote:
You will require a working visit visa invitation specifically from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


teacherwhy16? do you have an invitation from the MOFA?


Nope. I'm just trying to get some clarification.
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Generally, any Saudi visa type that includes the words "visit" and/or "business" does not grant the holder the legal right to work or reside in the Kingdom.
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scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 8:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't listen to us. Go and work as a wetback.
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teacherwhy16?



Joined: 09 Mar 2014
Posts: 16

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 2:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

nomad soul wrote:
Generally, any Saudi visa type that includes the words "visit" and/or "business" does not grant the holder the legal right to work or reside in the Kingdom.



Cheers, Nomad Soul. How common of a practice is it to get teachers to come in on these kinds of visas (as teachers)? Any estimates/guesses?
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 4:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is a long time scam-like procedure that unscrupulous employers/recruiters/contractors use to get teachers in quickly and cheaply. They don't care that you are illegal and thus are quite limited in what you are able to do... and have no recourse against this employer.

KSA has recently put through laws to try to get rid of its thousands of illegal workers. Thus far, they haven't deported any teachers that we know of. But, there is absolutely no guarantee that they won't do so tomorrow. (or never) Teachers must decide if they are willing to take the risk. It does immediately tell you something negative about the organization that you going to work for...

VS
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until further notice



Joined: 28 Apr 2014
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 4:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

.

Last edited by until further notice on Tue Apr 29, 2014 4:08 pm; edited 1 time in total
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