Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Relatives can legally swap housemaids among themselves, the department of passports (Jawzat) said on its website, according to local Arbaic daily Al-Madina on Tuesday.

It said there are about two million house helps in the Kingdom at present of whom about 62 percent are women. It added that the annual monthly salaries paid to the house helps exceed SR2 billion.

The Jawazat asked for the payment of the fees for the dependents, companions and the housemaids under the sponsorship of those working in the private sector before making the exit-reentry visas or renewing the iqama.

The Jawazat warned that there will not be any grace periods for the renewal of the Muqeem ID cards and said it should be renewed at least three days before expiry.

It said there would be a fine of SR500 for delaying the renewal of the Muqeem card for the the first time which will go up to SR1,000 in the second time.