Saudi Gazette report

 

RIYADH —  Although the Human Rights Commission and Saudi as well as international laws ban employers from holding the passports of their employees, many companies still keep the custody of their workers’ passports against their will.



In July 2000, the Council of Ministers issued a decision preventing employers from holding their employees’ passports. The Cabinet also ordered that the word “kafeel”, or sponsor, be replaced with the word “business owner.”



Holding an employee’s passport cannot grant the employer the upper hand in the employer-employee relationship, Abdullah Al-Aqeel, former deputy chairman of executive council,  Shaqra Governorate Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Al-Riyadh Arabic daily.



“A passport cannot be used as a document to exercise pressure on an employee. When the passport expires, the employer will have to hand it to the employee for renewal,” Al-Aqeel said.



Khalid Al-Humood, media consultant and an education expert, criticized employers who hold their employees’ passports.



Strict enforcement of laws should put an end to the practice of holding passports by employers.



An expatriate employee should be responsible for his own passport, Al-Humood said.



“An employee who comes to work here should have the right to keep his passport with him,” he said.



He suggested that there should be a unified employment contract for all the regions in the Kingdom.



Abdullah Niazi, director of coordination at the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), said a passport is a personal property of the employee and should not be taken away from him.



He said some employers think that holding an employee’s passport will prevent him from running away. But this does not act as a deterrent for employees, many of whom run away leaving their passports with their employers.