RIYADH — The Ministry of Labor has designed a comprehensive plan to target businesses that have the largest number of residency violators, a ministry official has said. The ministry is focusing now on those workers who do not comply with pertinent regulations and do not work for their original sponsors, said Abdullah Abothenain, undersecretary for inspection and work environment improvement. It also has plans to pay inspection visits to businesses that might not appear on its radar such as those located in small malls or old neighborhoods, he said. Some of those arrested were caught because the profession on their iqamas (residence permits) was different from the one appearing on their employment licenses, Abothenain said. Others were arrested because they were not working for their original sponsors and one worker was doing a job restricted to Saudi citizens only, he added. The ministry's Riyadh branch director Fahad Al-Khelawi said there are 55 inspection teams covering all of the capital's neighborhoods. In addition to these violations, the inspectors focus on businesses that try to get around Saudization targets and do not employ female workers at ladies fashion shops. Abothenain said: “Last week, inspectors caught over 100 people for violating residency regulations. “The inspection visits focused on Al-Tahliah Street, Khalid Bin Al-Waleed Street and a computer and cell phone mall.” The inspectors will cover more places in the upcoming weeks. Discussing workers who stand on streets searching for jobs, Abothenain said the ministry's inspectors would not arrest them because it is not their responsibility. It is actually the police's responsibility, he said. The businesses that have had their files suspended by the ministry will have a chance to reactivate their accounts should they submit necessary documents and prove they are in compliance with the regulations, said Abothenain. The ministry had to suspend the files of some businesses because they did not update their addresses, while some did not exist in reality and just used fake addresses. “Suspending a business's file is not a penalty as much as it's a procedure taken by the ministry. Until the business has complied with regulations, the status quo will continue.” There are other businesses that were suspended because they did not abide by wage protection regulations and failed to upload the files of their staff to the ministry's website before the deadline was over.
