Job Discussion Forums

[riyadhteacher]

I've heard rumors of labor law changes in Saudi (must be at a job for two years to transfer to another employer). Is is true? Is it being enforced?

Thanks,
[email protected]

[lazycomputerkids]

[Citizenkane]

Not heard about this, but even it it is true, as always there will be ways around it. Employers with major wasta will be able to flout the rules, and there's always the 'wash your passport' option, destroying evidence of your previous employment as far as the embassy are concerned.

[Asda]

With regards to the washing of one's passport;

1) Aren't visas in sticker form now, with permanent ink?

2) What if your fingerprint and eye scans are on Uncle Bandar's database?



I would like to raise my bat (a cricketism) to everyone in light of reaching my double century (200 posts).

VS, I'm hot on your heels...!!

[Citizenkane]

[veiledsentiments]

[desert_traveller]

http://arabnews.com/lawyou/article41129.ece

I have been working with a company for nearly a year. My employer and I agreed to get my iqama transferred to another employer. Is this possible? How is it done? � A.A.W.T.

Yes, it is possible to change jobs with your employer�s consent, but under the most recent regulations this cannot be done until you have completed two years with your current employer. As to the actual procedure: This is done by your current employer who will prepare your papers with a written approval called a no-objection certificate. This is then forwarded to the Passport Department who actually executes the transfer of the iqama to the new employer.

[Citizenkane]

From the quote above, it seems that the new law is only concerned with people transferring from one employer to another without leaving the country, as opposed to those who leave on an exit-only visa and reapply for a new Saudi working visa abroad.

[Balzac]

[Sheikh N Bake]

Yes.

I've only been with my present employer for a year and a new company has taken over the contract. Under certain exceptions, including ours, there is no need for us to leave the country to effect the Iqama change. Our passports are in the Ministry (Labor, I assume) as I speak and our GR man was told the changeover for those of us with less than 2 years will be done in two weeks.

[scot47]

It depends on your employer. Just as some employers insist on you being in your native country before you can have a visa processed, so it is with this. A further illustration of the need to choose your New Master carefully.

[Sheikh N Bake]

Furthermore I am told that the new rule applies to foreign laborers but not western professionals. That's why my passport and Iqama are in the Ministry along with other colleagues, being processed.

[muhajir]

I believe the reason for this new rule is to prevent foreigners from 'buying' visas just to enter the country, then look for work while they are on the ground. Usually Indians (IT professionals/engineers) do this, they pay a Saudi for a visa to come here (I heard its around SR2k) and they get an iqama with some random job title (cleaner/tailor/plumber), then once they are on the ground they look for jobs in their real profession, then they transfer. The new rule should prevent this.

[Balzac]

[Balzac]