Thursday, Dec 01, 2016

Manama: Saudi Arabia is to deport foreigners caught working illegally in the communication sector, selling or repairing mobile phones and accessories or carrying out accounting, marketing or clerical activities.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Development has moved towards applying more stringent actions in order to fully address violations following the decision to allow only Saudi citizens to work in the sector, sources told Saudi news site Sabq.

“The ministry will be coordinating with the relevant authorities to start deporting foreigners who break the rule regarding employment in the communication sector,” the source was quoted as saying by Sabq on Thursday.

“Prior to the deportation, the employee or the shop or company employing him will have to pay a 20,000 Saudi Riyals fine for breaking the rule. The shop or company will also have to pay other fines imposed by other authorities.”

The ministry has made the move to deport violators after it gave foreigners working in the communication sector a grace period to find a job in other fields.

In March, Saudi Arabia announced that it was nationalising the communication sector and gave employers and expatriates working in the sector a six-month grace period to adjust their status.

Expatriates were allowed to change their employment visas easily if they found jobs in other sectors. However, those who did not had to leave the country.

Under the two-step plan, shops had until June 7 to ensure that half of their staff were Saudi nationals and until September 3 to have only Saudi employees.

Large markets with several departments were told to ensure that only Saudis were employed in the mobile phone sale, maintenance and accessories sections.

The decision aimed to boost the employment of Saudi nationals in the sector and help reduce social and economic challenges.

Inspection rounds on several occasions discovered that some shops, in their bid to flout the rules, put Saudi nationals in front positions to deal with customers, but kept foreigners manning the repair workshops or offices away from the public.

by Habib Toumi Bureau Chief

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