Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — New procedures have been implemented by the Passports Department to help workers who have important documents withheld by their sponsors. The Passports Department is helping to issue new passports and residence permits to those who cannot get hold of theirs in order to rectify their status with the department. Some sponsors are refusing to provide their workers with the required documents. Col. Bader Al-Malik, spokesperson of the department, said new rules permit the workers to process, update and transfer their paperwork to a new sponsor without referring back to their previous one. According to the procedure, any worker violating the residency system is faced with three options: Leaving Saudi Arabia for good, returning to his former sponsor, or transferring his sponsorship directly to his new sponsor. Matouk Al-Sharif, a member of the Human Rights Commission, said sponsors who confiscate passports of their workers were violating the law. Some cases were referred to court to defend the workers' rights. It is a violation that must be addressed, he said. Al-Malik clarified that there will be no exception made for workers after this grace period ends.
Therefore, this is the only chance for violators to rectify their status, he said. Expatriate drivers leaving Saudi Arabia permanently will have all road tickets and fines waived off, he said.
