7/28/2019 PR-054-2013 Steps to Rectify Status During 3 Month Grace Period in View of Implementation of Saudi Labor Law

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EmbassyoftheRepublicofthePhilippinesRiyadh,KingdomofSaudiArabiaP.O.Box94366Riyadh11693FaxNo.(+9661)488.3945Email:rype@riyadhpe.comWebsite:www.philembassy-riyadh.orgFacebookPagewww.facebook.com/philembassyriyadh

PressRelease054-201310April2013

Stepstorectifystatusduringthethree-monthgraceperiodinviewofimplementationofSaudiLaborLaw

amendmentsThe grace period instituted by the Saudi government is meant for violations of theSaudizationpolicy(nitaqat)specificallythoseforeignworkerswhoworkforemployerswho are not their sponsors, and those employerswho do not employ enoughSaudinationals.ThosewhofallunderthiscategoryhaveviolatedSaudilaborlaw.TheSaudigovernmentwillgoaftertheerringoriginalsponsor,thecurrentemployerandtheillegalworkeriftheydonotcorrecttheirpapersoncethegraceperiodisover.TheFilipinocommunityisstronglyurgedtoreadtheFAQpreparedbytheEmbassywith

regardtothisgraceperiod.Thosewho have long runaway from theiroriginalsponsors and no longer have validresidencypermits(iqamas)orpassportsareadifferentcategoryaltogether.Theirsisanimmigrationproblem.ThereareexistingproceduresunderSaudilawforaddressingtheirissues.TheEmbassyisalwaysreadytoprovideappropriateadviceandassistanceinanycase.However, their respective solutions for those violating the labor law and for thoseviolatingimmigrationlawaredifferent.Forexample,forworkersaffectedbytheSaudizationpolicy,theyneedtoeitherreturnto their original sponsor or to transfer sponsors to their actual current employer byfollowingexistingregulations.Thoseworkingasfreelancersorunderadependentsvisashouldkeepinmindthatitisaviolationtoworkwithafreelanceordependentvisa.Theyshouldtakestepstotransfertheiriqamaimmediatelybeforetheendofthegraceperiod.Ontheotherhand,forworkersfallingundertheimmigrationproblemcategory,theywillneedtobereadywiththeirlastvalidresidencycard( iqama)andvalidpassportoracopyofthelastpassport.Iftheydonothaveacopyoftheiriqama,theycanobtainaprint

outoftheinformationfromtheJawazat.

7/28/2019 PR-054-2013 Steps to Rectify Status During 3 Month Grace Period in View of Implementation of Saudi Labor Law

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EmbassyoftheRepublicofthePhilippinesRiyadh,KingdomofSaudiArabiaP.O.Box94366Riyadh11693FaxNo.(+9661)488.3945Email:rype@riyadhpe.comWebsite:www.philembassy-riyadh.orgFacebookPagewww.facebook.com/philembassyriyadh

TheywillalsoneedtogetintouchwiththeiroriginalsponsorswhentheyfirstarrivedinSaudiArabiaandrequestfromthemaNo-ObjectionCertificate.Andtheywillneedtogoto the General Directorate for Passports (Jawazat) for the payment of fines andpenalties,andtheairfarefortheflighttothePhilippines.Lastly,asofthistimethereisnoamnestyforforeignnationalsillegallystayinginSaudiArabia. ItwasonlyaproposalmadebyLaborMinisterAdelFakieh,whichis stillunder

studybyvariousconcernedSaudiagencies.TheEmbassyhaspreviouslyadvisedtheFilipinocommunityinSaudiArabianottobelieveinrumorsthatthereisanamnesty.TheEmbassywilladvisetheFilipinocommunityonceit receivesofficial notification fromSaudi governmentauthorities of anydevelopmentwithregardtoimmigrationlaw.ThereisalsonotruthtotherumorthatthePhilippineGovernment will shoulder all expenses (fines and airfare) for the repatriation ofoverstayers.TheEmbassywillsoondisseminatethetranslationofproceduresforvarioustransactions

withtheGeneralDirectorateofPassports,andwillalsodisseminateanyofficialnoticesitreceivesfromthehostgovernment.(END)