License or no license; they are out to earn a quick buck by any means. Several expatriate workers – both legal and illegal – have started gathering in Makkah and other holy sites to give their specialist assistance to the expected three million pilgrims during this year's Haj. Chefs, small time cooks, maids, drivers and barbers – to name a few – have been making a beeline to the holy sites to earn some money. Either they have taken leave of absence from their employers or are escapees from their original sponsors. “I need to go to Makkah before the beginning of Haj, to cook food for the pilgrims,” said Arshad Ali, a chef from Turkey working in a famous Jeddah restaurant specializing in bread and pizza. He said he has taken prior permission from his sponsor. “After the Haj I will come back and join him,” he said. There are several reasons for the expatriates to take the decision to be in Makkah and holy sites, money being the primary concern. “Actually, my work here in Jeddah is safe and comfortable, but the salary is too low,” Arshad said. “In my original job I get 3,000 (riyal) a month, but in Makkah specially during the Haj season I will get around 10,000 (riyal) a month,” he added. Like Arshad, many other Indonesian maids opt to work in Makkah during this season. “I leave my original job and go to Makkah for the Haj season and wash clothes, cook food and take care of children of the pilgrims,” said Liya Aashour, an Indonesian maid working for a Saudi family. The Saudi family willingly relieves her from her duty for a month or so as she is not under their sponsorship. “I get around SR4,000 in Makkah during the Haj season – four times the monthly salary I get in Jeddah,” she said. Despite tightening of measures by the government restricting entry into Makkah for only those with valid papers, these expatriates have found an easy way to hoodwink the authorities. They have approached various establishments arranging the pilgrimage from Jeddah. “I have entered into a deal with one of the establishments. The company will transport me to Makkah along with its other staff members,” said a cook requesting anonymity. Arshad said expatriates take a house near the Grand Mosque. “We cook food, wash clothes and do small errands for the pilgrims and get good money.” Makkah police say they are helpless in tracing down the illegal workers. “It is too difficult to check the holy sites as they are too crowded. Also it is difficult to distinguish between pilgrims and workers unless the pilgrim is in Ihram,” said Major Abdul-Mohsen Al-Maiman, spokesman for Makkah Police. Upon receiving a complaint from the sponsor, we make a search and arrest a runaway expatriate worker. But in this case we need the sponsor to tell us about his place of work,” added Al-Maiman. – SG __
