Syeda Amtul Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Thousands of expatriate women, working mainly in schools and beauty parlors, have found the ongoing three-month grace period to correct residency status most beneficial. There have been reports that the ministry was considering conversion of a “dependent visa” into an “employment visa” for teachers working in various private schools in the Kingdom. The move, as and when adopted, will largely benefit thousands of female teachers who are presently under the dependent category. Expatriate women — mainly from India, Pakistan, Egypt and Bangladesh — are either housewives or daughters of working expatriates and living as dependents. These women generally work for low salaries and are denied several basic rights enjoyed by regular employees. With the proposed change of status, this specific group of expat women will be empowered with all basic rights, such as medical insurance, annual vacation and round-trip air tickets. Dua Muhammad, an Egyptian language teacher in Obhur International school, says: “Rectifying our status or changing sponsorship obviously will be to our advantage. I am working to assist my husband and if I can change my status with all benefits, it's good for me”. She added: “The three-month grace period is a golden opportunity for women like me to increase our income. The only difficulty is that it is said that we have to go back to our country and re-enter the Kingdom with a ‘work visa' provided by our school.” But there are many advantages. The existing pay structure may have to be revised; many foresee a 100 percent increase in wages, besides air tickets home, medical insurance, transport allowance, etc. “Expat women mostly accompany their spouses or parents when they leave for their home country. Most of the expat women are well-educated and some have been employed in specialized fields back home. These women, when they relocate outside their own country, generally are demoralized as they are not able to fit into the same positions they were holding back home,” says Padma Hariharan, Director of Novel International School in Jeddah. Hariharan, an Indian national, added: “I thank Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for opening the doors of opportunity to expatriate women and for sure this will help us give back to our host country. We are eager and ready to train Saudi women in the occupations and professions they choose”. Lakeita, an American national, who works as a language teacher said: “It's good to work according to the law and better to obey the rules”. Moreover, several female expatriates have been forced to work in professions other than those that they are qualified for. A qualified medical practitioner is currently working as a teacher in kindergarten or elementary school and a female expat lawyer is performing clerical duties. Most of these women are excited to get a chance to rectify their status. “We can now prove our merit in the profession of our choice based on our qualifications. We are not bothered about our pay, we just need to work in a relevant profession commensurate with our qualifications,” a Pakistani national said.
Nazima Zafar, academic coordinator at Obhur International school says: “There are many benefits that expatriate women can take advantage of after changing their sponsorship, and it is also beneficial for schools and students because staff will be permanent, as teachers can continue for at least for two years.”
