RIYADH — A total of 174,461 violators of labor and residency laws have been arrested during the first five weeks of the security campaign, which started on March 8. Inspection squads from the ministries of interior and labor are carrying out intensive crackdown on violators in various cities and regions across the Kingdom, according to a joint statement of the two ministries. The ministries urged citizens and expatriates to strictly adhere to the labor and residency regulations and inform about violators on 989. Violators face stringent penalties, including fines up to SR100,000, two-year imprisonment, deportation and a ban on recruitment, the statement said. Employers should not allow those under their sponsorship to work with others or hire those who are under the sponsorship of others or allow their workers to engage in work for their personal gains, the statement said, asking employers to complete procedures to issue or renew iqamas (residency permits) and work permits on time. Penalties will be higher for those firms which employ infiltrators. These include fines up to SR100,000, five-year ban on recruitment, two-year imprisonment for the director concerned of the firm, deportation if he is an expatriate, and publicizing the name of the firm. If any private firm hires any expatriate in violation of the regulations or leaves him to work for his personal gain or work with others or it employs workers who are not in its sponsorship, the firm will face penalties such as fines up to SR100,000, five-year ban on recruitment, one-year imprisonment for the director concerned and deportation if he is an expatriate, and the name of firm will be publicized, the statement added.
