I have been receiving messages, intermittently, from frustrated expatriate workers who are working under abusive sponsors, who are holding them back by neither giving them an exit visa nor paying them their wages. These workers just want to get their dues and go back home on a final exit, but the sponsors are stalling their cases. In the meantime, these poor workers are living in horrible conditions, often borrowing money to simply exist or getting by with the help from good doers. One of the cases I received is a petition from a group of three workers who are living in miserable condition because of their employer's intransigence. All what they want after reaching a dead end with their sponsor is their financial dues and their passport and a ticket back home. These expat workers when they did not get along with their employer, decided to leave and asked for a final exit visa. Angry at their request, the employer began stalling knowing that he could afford to play this game, while the poor workers could not. As time passes, the workers suffer more. Another prominent case that was published in the Saudi Gazette few months back was of a local hospital that stopped paying its staff, Saudis and expats, due to financial and administrative difficulties. The hospital was finally shut down and the case was referred to the court. During hearings, the owner purposely did not show up on court dates adding financial and psychological damage to the waiting people. After three long years at court, the verdict was finally issued in favor of the workers and the owner was ordered to pay all delayed salaries. To this date, the workers have not received their money and I was told that two of the staff members involved in this case died without receiving a single riyal. The verdict is there but why was it not enforced. A delegation from the victims came to the office of the newspaper to complain again about the pain and suffering because they could not go back home until they get their money. The only positive outcome in this whole story of suffering is that the doctors and workers were allowed to transfer their Iqamas (residential permit) to another hospital and work. There are many nurses who want to go on a final exit back home, but they are stranded until they get their money first. They know that if they are not present, then they will lose their money. A Filipina nurse, from the group, decided not to wait and went back home without receiving her money. But she gave a power of attorney to her nurse friend to represent her and collect the money if it was paid, or if and when it is ever going to be paid. Then there are sad cases of expat workers who decide to give up their case and start fresh with another sponsor. They see it as a waste of time and energy and a continuous reminder of the pain they endured during this long wait. Then there are those who decide to give up because their new employers would not give them free time to go to court and follow up. Another sad case we received is that of an expat worker in a polyclinic in Makkah. The polyclinic in which he was working was in an area to be demolished for the Grand Mosque expansion. He was told by his employer to stay at home until further notice. The period got extended and shortly after his employer stopped his salary. The poor man was left stranded and jobless because he had no income. He told us that he felt frustrated and useless and on many times he contemplated committing suicide. The worst feeling he told us was when people treated him as a poor man and provided him with food, money and clothes. He said that this pity and handouts was the worst feeling since he was able to work but could not because of his sponsor. I feel sad and angry at the same time when I see people, whether Saudis or expats, are treated and manipulated this way. It is these bad sponsors that give us a bad name. Are people coming to this country to work and participate in the wheel of development or to be oppressed and treated badly? A contract needs to be honored by both parties. Salaries should be paid on time and without delay. If a worker wants to change his job then it should be done within the rules and regulation stated by the related authority. The Labor Ministry through its High Commission for settlement of labor disputes is doing a great job in summoning employers to the ministry. Failure to do so will result in the ministry freezing all the employer's electronic accounts at the ministry. The courts, although it may take a long time, issue the right verdict and in all cases it is in favor of the oppressed. What is needed is the law to be enforced and no one is better than the police department in enforcing it. If the employer has enough assets or monetary bank balance a mechanism should be devised that the amount to be paid is realized through drawing of this amount from the bank or sale of his assets so that the workers are paid their dues. If this is not possible than any legal verdict that's not enforced, should see the defaulting owner be dragged to jail until he pays all the late salaries. — The writer can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @anajeddawi_eng
