Job Discussion Forums

[mnruman]

Have a read guys and girls.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-arabia/sr2000-fine-for-keeping-workers-passports-ministry/

[johnslat]

Aha - good thing Saudi is a nation where laws are strictly and uniformly enforced and not a nation where wasta rules the day.

Regards,
John

[nomad soul]

Also posted in Do employers/sponsors still withhold passports? in which a fair number of the respondents indicated that their passports were being held. It will be interesting to see how quickly their employers return the documents (if at all).

[nomad soul]

Business owners voice concern at new labor rules
By Fatima Muhammad, Saudi Gazette | 2 November 2015
Source: http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-arabia/business-owners-voice-concern-at-new-labor-rules/
(Edited for relevance)

JEDDAH — Businessmen have voiced their concern regarding couple of new articles of the new labor regulations that were passed by the Ministry of Labor recently. The sticking point, according to them was particularly those that dealt with vacations, employment of women and allowing expatriates to keep their passports.

The new system they noted is more specific than the previous one and it is in the favor of employees. However, it looks at the businesses narrowly such that they would incur swift penalties if anything happens. “We need time to adjust and prepare our homes! They should guide us and visit us to explain the system before imposing the fines or other penalties,” said a businessman.

Another issue that businessmen raised is that companies are to be fined SR2,000 if they keep a worker’s passport. The new regulations are in the benefit of employees only, he questioned, “How could we protect our rights if the workers have their passports? This will allow them to leave at anytime without notice, or from under our noses if they are involved in any crimes.” Further, he added, that many workers live in accommodations where one room might have up to five workers and it is not safe to keep passports with them in this environment.

Khalid Obaid, a human resources manager, at a private company noted that an article that states that employees can have up to 30 days leave without excuse will increase carelessness among employees. “We are not against the new regulations but we want the Labor Ministry to take into considerations the rights of companies as well.”

(End of article)

[Hatcher]

This article is stupid. To begin with, the Saudis have no laws. I was owed over 3000$ by a large university in the KSA and when I asked for it, they said, labor laws? Are you stupid? There are no laws....

The place is uncivilized. When a large uni kept passports, the US embassy called and said give them back. They did and then yelled at the Americans for telling the embassy.

[dustdevil]