JEDDAH — The Ministry of Labor is going to launch a new service allowing the owners of private and foreign schools to hire dependents of expatriate workers. An employer will be able to issue a notification through www.ajeer.com.sa to hire a dependent. The new service seeks to meet the job needs in the private education sector. Foreign schools, boys' and girls' private schools and kindergartens will have to pay a fee of SR1,500 for each dependent hired. Once an employer registers on the website for hiring a dependent of an expat worker, the website will send the employer a notification confirming his registration. Dr. Sami Al-Humood, ministry's undersecretary for planning and development, said the new service does not require the transfer of sponsorship, adding that the notification can act as a legal document that is renewable annually. If the contract term ends or is terminated, the employer cannot issue a final exit visa. The dependent can stay as long as her residence permit is valid. Both the institution and the dependent must meet the ministry's requirements and regulations that include the Nitaqat program. Before using the new service, the institution must have met platinum, high green, or medium green requirements. A dependent should be over 18 years of age and should possess a valid residence permit as well as a practice license from the Ministry of Education. All institutions interested in the new service should go to www.ajeer.com.sa and register their names. They can also use the service to seek information related to expatriate workers in the sector. Starting this week, dependents of expatriates were allowed to work at private and international schools without the need to transfer their Iqamas (residence permits). This will reduce recruitment from abroad and save time and money spent on issuing visas. Earlier, the dependents of expatriates were allowed to work in the private sector only under the condition that they transfer their Iqamas. School teachers will be governed by the labor law. They have to get a clear written contract. They also have the right to medical insurance. The maximum working hours is eight hours a day adding to a total of 48 hours a week. They are entitled to a 21-day paid annual leave. This increases to 30 days after working for five years in the same company. Women employees have the right to get 10-week maternity leave, four weeks before and six weeks after the delivery. They also have the right to get one hour each day for breast-feeding in addition to the one-hour break given to all employees. The employer cannot fire a woman during her maternity leave. The employer is required to pay all medical bills for the pregnant woman staff member.
