Job Discussion Forums

[sheikher]

Article (38):
An employer may not employ the worker in a profession other than the one specified in his work permit. Before following the legal procedures for changing the profession, a worker is prohibited to engage in a profession other than his.

Article (40):
(1) An employer shall incur the fees pertaining to recruitment of non-Saudi workers, the fees of the residence permit (Iqama) and work permit together with their renewal and the fines resulting from their delay, as well as the fees pertaining to change of profession, exit and re-entry visas and return tickets to the worker�s home country at the end of the relation between the two parties.

http://www.mol.gov.sa/en/Documents/LaborLawPart3.pdf


Alien Visas

1. Unauthorised persons are not allowed to follow up transactions other than theirs; an alien householder may attend and sign requests on behalf of his dependents.
2. Service offices are not allowed to sign or stamp documents on behalf of clients who sponsor aliens.
3. A resident alien who gets a re-entry visa or final exit visa may stay for 2 months in the Kingdom; a visa may be cancelled by the passports authority within the 2 month period. To get a new visa, set procedures must be followed and applicable charges must be paid.
4. If the resident alien's passport is stamped with a re-entry visa or a final exit visa and the resident stays in the Kingdom for more than 2 month, the visa can be cancelled and a fine is imposed. To get a new visa, set procedures must be followed and applicable charges must be paid.
5. If an alien needs to get a re-entry visa for his dependents that are added to his passport, he must have their passports issued by their country's embassy in the Kingdom.
6. Authorised government relations officers follow up only those transactions that belong to employees of an establishment that sponsored the employees.
7. All the submitted documents must be genuine, and the information provided must be correct and valid.
8. Re-entry visa is stamped on the employer�s request, and its validity period is 6 months. Upon the householder�s request, wives and dependents who study abroad may obtain a single entry visa valid for 9-12 months. The residence permit must be valid for a period longer than the visa that has been requested.

http://www.moi.gov.sa/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/dY3LDoIwFES_xS-4t6W0bKXyKGhpVEDYmMZUQkRwYUz8ezWauGJmec5koIV3R_voO3vvp9EOcICWH31ppAo2HklMKZDGgmWS5wHmDHZuhPqzmreY9-W6oGXMFCEBjwhSnrJwXSlMVj-OM1ki6HS6OmigFf8X9EOJtNLS3-4NFpRCM7jOnp5wu2TRWXaLF6t_Ddc!/dl2/d1/L0lDU0lKSWdra0EhIS9JTlJBQUlpQ2dBek15cUEhL1lCSkoxTkExTkk1MC13ISEvN181Q1BDSThNMzEwNUJDMDJWTkM1UlRQME8yNQ!!/?WCM_PORTLET=PC_7_5CPCI8M3105BC02VNC5RTP0O25_WCM&WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/main/moi+home+content/home/rules+and+regulations/moi_alien+visas_default_en



Residence Permit (Iqama)

1. Employers must obtain residence permits for their employees to enable them move freely in the city where they work.
2. When an employee travels outside the Kingdom on a entry visa, the employer must keep the employee�s residence permit until his return to Saudi Arabia. To obtain a final exit visa, the residence permit is submitted to the passports authority with a final exit visa request form.
3. If the passport or residence permit is lost, the incident must be reported to the passports authority within 24 hours. If there is no passport authority in the neighborhood, the incident must be reported to the nearest police station. Violators of the rule are punished according to established law.
4. Residence permits must be renewed 3 days before expiration date. First-time violators pay a fine equals to the renewal charge. The fine is doubled in case of a second violation. If a resident violates the rule 3 times, deportation will be his punishment.
5. Householder�s residence permit includes permit for his wife and legal minors (sons and daughters.) The householder�s son and / or daughter above the age of 18 years must be a passport holder and obtain a separate visa after paying the applicable fee.
6. A resident alien must present the residence permit to passports officers at their request; otherwise, he will be punished according to the established law.
7. The resident must keep the residence permit safely and never hand it to others. Pawning it is strictly prohibited.
8. The resident householder�s dependents are not allowed to work without the permission of the concerned authorities. Violators of the rule are liable to be punished according to the established law.
9. Companies, establishments and individuals must obtain residence and work permits for their employees. It is illegal to employ an alien who does not possess a residence or work permit. Employing individuals who are sponsored by others is a violation of the system.
10. Photographs of dependents must be added to the resident householder�s passport.
11. Lost or damaged residence permits are replaced with new ones, stamped as �Replacement,� validity of which is as same as of the original permit i.e. untill the expiry date.

http://www.moi.gov.sa/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/dY3LDoIwFES_xS-4t6W0bKXyKGhpVEDYmMZUQkRwYUz8ezWauGJmec5koIV3R_voO3vvp9EOcICWH31ppAo2HklMKZDGgmWS5wHmDHZuhPqzmreY9-W6oGXMFCEBjwhSnrJwXSlMVj-OM1ki6HS6OmigFf8X9EOJtNLS3-4NFpRCM7jOnp5wu2TRWXaLF6t_Ddc!/dl2/d1/L0lDU0lKSWdra0EhIS9JTlJBQUlpQ2dBek15cUEhL1lCSkoxTkExTkk1MC13ISEvN181Q1BDSThNMzEwNUJDMDJWTkM1UlRQME8yNQ!!/?WCM_PORTLET=PC_7_5CPCI8M3105BC02VNC5RTP0O25_WCM&WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/main/moi+home+content/home/rules+and+regulations/moi_residence+permit_default_en


Important Notes for Aliens

1. Work permit charges for household workers, drivers and individuals are paid to authorized banks. Companies and establishments must obtain work permits issued by the Labour Office.
2. Workers in the government administrations, students, un-employed males, un-employed dependents and wives of non-Saudis need no working permits.
3. A sum of Saudi Riyal (SAR) 2000 is paid for securing recruitment permission. Families of resident aliens who work for the government and foreign embassies are exempted from paying this charge, whether they are holders of diplomatic passports or not.
4. A Human Resources development charge is paid by all recruited aliens except the following:
-- Non-Saudi wives of Saudi citizens.
-- Contractors who work for government administrations.
-- Embassy employees and diplomatic passports holders.
-- Household workers, farmers, shepherds, and drivers who are sponsored by individuals.
-- Alien resident�s dependents such as wives, sons, and daughters.
-- A female's Companion (husband, father, or brother).
5. A resident alien�s son or daughter has to obtain a separate residence permit and pay the applicable charges, once he or she turns 18 years of age.
6. The following are exempted from paying residence and visa charges:
-- Non-Saudi wives of disabled citizens.
-- Non-Saudi students who are on scholarships.
-- Military students who come to the Kingdom for training.
7. If sons and daughters of a Saudi woman from a marriage to a non-Saudi are transferred to her custody, they are exempted from the transfer charge. This exemption does not include those individuals whose sponsorship was transferred for work.

http://www.moi.gov.sa/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/dY3LDoIwFES_xS-4t6W0bKXyKGhpVEDYmMZUQkRwYUz8ezWauGJmec5koIV3R_voO3vvp9EOcICWH31ppAo2HklMKZDGgmWS5wHmDHZuhPqzmreY9-W6oGXMFCEBjwhSnrJwXSlMVj-OM1ki6HS6OmigFf8X9EOJtNLS3-4NFpRCM7jOnp5wu2TRWXaLF6t_Ddc!/dl2/d1/L0lDU0lKSWdra0EhIS9JTlJBQUlpQ2dBek15cUEhL1lCSkoxTkExTkk1MC13ISEvN181Q1BDSThNMzEwNUJDMDJWTkM1UlRQME8yNQ!!/?WCM_PORTLET=PC_7_5CPCI8M3105BC02VNC5RTP0O25_WCM&WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/main/moi+home+content/home/rules+and+regulations/moi_important+notes+for+aliens_default_en


Transferring Services

1. A resident alien who works for a government organisation can not be transferred to the private sector.
2. Services of a resident alien with a diplomatic residence permit can not be transferred.
3. Services of a resident alien student can not be transferred.
4. Services of a resident alien who works for a company or an establishment that has temporary operations in the Kingdom can not be transferred.
5. To transfer a resident alien to a new service, his career and qualifications must be appropriate for the new job.

http://www.moi.gov.sa/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/dY3LDoIwFES_xS-4t6W0bKXyKGhpVEDYmMZUQkRwYUz8ezWauGJmec5koIV3R_voO3vvp9EOcICWH31ppAo2HklMKZDGgmWS5wHmDHZuhPqzmreY9-W6oGXMFCEBjwhSnrJwXSlMVj-OM1ki6HS6OmigFf8X9EOJtNLS3-4NFpRCM7jOnp5wu2TRWXaLF6t_Ddc!/dl2/d1/L0lDU0lKSWdra0EhIS9JTlJBQUlpQ2dBek15cUEhL1lCSkoxTkExTkk1MC13ISEvN181Q1BDSThNMzEwNUJDMDJWTkM1UlRQME8yNQ!!/?WCM_PORTLET=PC_7_5CPCI8M3105BC02VNC5RTP0O25_WCM&WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/main/moi+home+content/home/rules+and+regulations/moi_transferring+services_default_en





Pardon the obsession. Sticky?

[johnslat]

Dear sheikher,

How long have you been in Saudi? Yup, it's an obsession. But it's also a bootless one. What's written as law doesn't really matter there most of the time. What matters is WASTA!!!!

Regards,
John

[sheikher]

Oh Mr Slat: If you only knew...

Don't touch that dial.

[johnslat]

Dear sheikher,

Am I to assume that you're going to present evidence that the law can triumph over wasta in the Kingdom?

I can hardly wait to see that (he said skeptically.)

Regards,
John

[Grendal]

[johnslat]

Dear Grendal,

That's what kind of worries me. Anybody who doesn't know better and thinks these "laws" actually mean much, if anything, is almost certainly setting him/herself up for a very rude awakening.

Regards,
John

[Vertical]

Hi VS,
I'm not sure whether they will keep my passport or not..
Haven't really been sure about much since I arrived. Everything is so mysterious, in a fascinating sort of way. You never really know what you're supposed to do, until a few minutes before you have to do it. (No forward planning.. at all.. ever.. )
But I'll let you know as soon as I know.. insha Allah..
Vert

[Citizenkane]

Seriously, sheikher, do you really think quoting chunks of legalese is going to help anyone, least of all a 'newbie'?

Even in countries with far more solid legal systems than KSA, foreign workers have little realistic chance of succesfully using the law against a well-connected local employer. In KSA, it's even more difficult. I really don't see how your posts are helpful at all, and will just give people false hope in the legal system. I've known teachers who had clearly been treated in a manner contrary to Saudi law, and who were still unable to do a thing about it. Perhaps if they'd been prepared to hang around for months (but on whose visa?) they might have got something out of it, but realstically, most teachers end up cutting their losses and putting it down to experience.

[desertdawg]

Good luck Vertical. Sounds like you have the right kind of attitude to live long and prosper in the Magic Kingdom.

Amazingly as you say, things do seem to come together at the very last minute. Several years ago I was working in a remote location (for a very reputable British company) waiting for my passport to be "DHLed" from Riyadh. Due to the inefficiencies of DHL and the compound guards there were several failed attempts to deliver. However I did get off on holiday. That may have been the one where the airport was closed due to a princess deciding to fly in on her hols. Perhaps she had a bit of wasta.

Not a lot you can do with your legally purchased tickets and consumer rights. Who should I sue?

[Makakilo]

Anytime is good as there are always people leaving
yes visas are def open to canadians
i would look out for business visit visas despite the fact that I came here on that same kind of visa but it was later turned into a residence permit within the first 90 days however I know people who have been here more than one year and are still having to dal with visitor or business visas every few months. the problem with that is that you cant open bank acct or do much of the things that make settling down easy...oh and you will have to exit and reenter every time it expires.
finally, bring some hot fudge cause I havent found any anywhere!!
Here is a video shot in Dammam, KSA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_0HdCEF-D0

[isabel]

[desertdawg]

To live in the Magic Kingdom you have to be stoical and accept "insha'allah" as a way of life. To come in huffing and puffing and banging on about rights is just going to leave you with fuses likely to blow.

My particular episode cost me a couple of days. But patience does usually pay dividends and is the only option you have. A friend was rushing home for an emergency. His Company had him flying from the Pilgrim's Terminal in Jiddah. After being turned away it was a very frustrating trip back up the hill. He remained calm and started again. I was lucky enough to learn a lot from him.

As for new comers: "he who dares...". Several years ago I had a spell in Oman. If I had followed the advice posted on the Forum I would have never taken the plunge. However I had a thoroughly enjoyable time without any of the pitfalls pessimistically predicted.

Good luck to all who bravely take the plunge! Stay informed. But don't rely on just one source.

[Vertical]

[Sheikh N Bake]

Smoking is harmless, in other words? Are you mad?

[veiledsentiments]