| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
AbeCross
Joined: 21 Jun 2012
Posts: 191
|
 Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 8:03 pm Post subject: Employers keeping passports |
 |
|
This article was in the Arab News last month:
http://www.arabnews.com/node/954496/saudi-arabia
It states that employers may not keep passports, but I know of two who have kept them in recent years: Saad Group and Shabaka.
I wonder how widespread this odious and unlawful practice is among EFL employers? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 8:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| The Saudi Government will have to deal with the shady companies much like they dealt with the Ikwan to free employee"s passports. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 8:51 pm Post subject: Re: Employers keeping passports |
|
|
| AbeCross wrote: |
I know of two who have kept them in recent years: Saad Group and Shabaka.
I wonder how widespread this odious and unlawful practice is among EFL employers? |
Previous discussions on this topic:
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Grendal
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Posts: 861
Location: Lurking in the depths of the Faisaliah Tower underground parking.
|
| Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 12:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Shabaka are a bunch of losers run by a hockey coach dictator. You will have to donate a pint of blood every month too because they sell it on the black market. You may also wake up with one less kidney too...
end of transmission
Grendal |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Abu Dawud
Joined: 16 Aug 2015
Posts: 23
Location: LONDON
|
| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 1:53 pm Post subject: Passport |
|
|
| I would like to know if anyone that's recently started with Ksu has been asked to hand over their passport? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: Passport |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I would like to know if anyone that's recently started with Ksu has been asked to hand over their passport? |
Keep in mind, if you have a proper work/employment visa, the employer will need your passport to apply for your resident ID card (muqeem) and any other administrative purposes. But making you hand over your passport for "safekeeping" as a condition of your employment is prohibited. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
lizzydizzy
Joined: 21 Jul 2016
Posts: 46
|
| Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 7:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| What should be done if an employer holds our passport. Should I contact my embassy for help or other steps? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 2:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
| lizzydizzy wrote: |
| What should be done if an employer holds our passport. Should I contact my embassy for help or other steps? |
It wouldn't hurt to contact your embassy to intervene. However, be proactive --- before even accepting an offer, you need to ask the prospective employer if you will be able to retain your passport. If they respond with something like, "Yes, you keep your passport because it's the law," then there's your answer. But... if the company has a reputation for sketchiness, then they'll likely tell you what you want to hear. So definitely ask on this forum what that specific employer's track record is. And frankly, you need to research each prospective employer anyway. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 9:34 am Post subject: |
|
|
What will you do with a passport that has no exit visa in it ? You cannot leave unless you have permission from your employer - in the form of an exit visa which he applies for.
If this is such a big deal for you only agree to go to work for an employer who will -
1. Authorise Multiple Exit Visa
and
2 Let you have the passport |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
I-forgot
Joined: 28 Jun 2015
Posts: 153
Location: Riyadh
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 3:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| lizzydizzy wrote: |
| What should be done if an employer holds our passport. Should I contact my embassy for help or other steps? |
1. Write a nice, polite email requesting your passport back because it is actually the property of the UK/US/AUS government.
If you don't get the result you want
2. Write a nice, polite email requesting your passport back and attach newspaper article.
If you don't get the result you want
3. Ask your embassy to intervene.
If you don't get the result you want
4. Report your passport as stolen or missing and get a replacement. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
I-forgot
Joined: 28 Jun 2015
Posts: 153
Location: Riyadh
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 3:28 pm Post subject: Re: Passport |
|
|
| Abu Dawud wrote: |
| I would like to know if anyone that's recently started with Ksu has been asked to hand over their passport? |
KSU doesn't do direct hire for ESL teachers. Answers will vary depending on your employer/agency. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Hatcher
Joined: 20 Mar 2008
Posts: 602
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 6:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
I would say finish out your contract and move on.
If you mention your embassy, you will be fired or at least not renewed.
About the laws against keeping your passport, that would work in an advanced country... as I was told in the KSA, the laws are only for non-Saudis like you. saudis have no rules. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 7:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
If you want to be a labour organiser and trade union activist, KSA is not a good place to practise.
My sympathies are with the Wobblies but you have to pick battles that you can win.
Last edited by scot47 on Mon Sep 19, 2016 3:21 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2016 1:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Hatcher wrote: |
| If you mention your embassy, you will be fired or at least not renewed. |
possible but not guaranteed. Didn't happen to anyone who I know, including myself, who got their embassy involved and got their passport returned.
Anyway, you're better off leaving it to your embassy to intervene if it's important to you. It's their property anyway, not yours. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ginger123
Joined: 25 Jun 2016
Posts: 33
Location: By the beach
|
| Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2016 9:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Tell them its not your passport, it's the Queen's! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
