Majed Al-Mufadhili Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Procedures, including fingerprinting, introduced by the ministries of interior and labor for undocumented foreign workers leaving the Kingdom will not prevent them from returning to work in the country for new employers, officials confirmed. Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, the officials said illegal workers who leave the Kingdom have every right to return to work if they can find a new employer, provided they were not involved in any criminal cases during their stay in the country. When a worker wishes to depart the Kingdom on an exit-only visa, the Ministry of Labor coordinates with the Expatriates' Administration at the Ministry of Interior to complete the necessary procedures.
Expatriates are not required to visit the labor office to complete the travel procedures, the sources said. Furthermore, expatriates will be exempt from any penalties and fines related to violations and residency and work permit fees during the grace period announced by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. The sources said the ministry was strictly adhering to its policy of not transferring the services of expatriate workers during the rectification period to any firm that was created after the announcement of the three-month grace period that began on April 6. Also, procedures forbid the rectification of the status of workers employed by unlicensed firms, as the rectification mechanisms include licensed firms only. An expatriate worker can transfer sponsorship without his employer's consent or approval if his work permit has expired. Businesses can, during the grace period, correct the profession of expatriate staff through online services, regardless of the company's Nitaqat rating. Similarly, domestic servants and other workers may correct their professions without paying any fees, as long as the grace period is still valid. The sources added that fugitive (huroob) reports against any worker will not be canceled unless the worker wants to return to the same employer, transfer sponsorship, or leave the Kingdom for good.
