Fatima Muhammad

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH – The Directorate General of Passports and the Ministry of Labor have said that they are not authorized to enter a home to investigate labor and residency law violations.



Passport Department spokesman Bandar Al-Malek told Saudi Gazette that the areas frequented by expatriates will be under the spotlight of the department once the three-month grace period ends, but to investigates homes will need the approval of the relevant authorities.



“Domestic workers are not our responsibility,” clarified Labor Ministry spokesman Hattab Al-Enizi, adding that the ministry’s tasks will be restricted to checking private sector establishments to make sure that all staff are under the sponsorship of their employers.



Amnesty guidelines announced by the ministries of interior and labor state that legal domestic helpers can transfer their services without the approval of their current sponsor through labor offices. Those domestic workers who have huroob reports pending against them or whose iqamas and work permits have expired can correct their status through the Passport Department before going to the Labor Ministry to transfer sponsorship.



The guidelines also announced financial penalties of up to SR100,000 and imprisonment for up to two years for each violations for those who employ, transport and harbor illegal expatriates after the end of the grace period. So now Saudis don’t want to take a chance and risk fines by employing housemaids or drivers who are not under their sponsorship or whose papers are not in order.



Many of the citizens have decided to approach foreign missions to find new maids and drivers who can transfer their sponsorship and work legally with them or legalize the status of the workers already working with them.



Amani, a Saudi mother of three, said that an Indonesian housemaid has been working for her for the past two years, she is familiar with her household chores. So Amani wants to legalize her maid’s papers.



Yet there are some like Jumana, a Lebanese accountant, who have preferred to get away with illegal maids for fear of penalty.