Government | Sunday 4 January, 2015 10:10 am |

Inspection teams aim to intensify their efforts to streamline Saudi Arabia’s labor market, according to local media.
The Labor Ministry’s first campaign against undocumented migrant workers, carried out in cooperation with the Interior Ministry, proved to be a success, say officials and residents.
The campaign also prevents employers or sponsors from exploiting hapless expats, they pointed out.
According to local media, a Labor Ministry source said inspection teams are constantly monitoring the market to prevent violations of Article 39 which bars companies from employing expats who are not under their sponsorship.
The inspectors also act against violations of Article 36 related to professions and vocations that ban the employment of non-Saudi nationals.
Inspection teams are working with relevant authorities to ensure that the labor market remains free of illegal practices.
The source attributed the campaign’s success to collective efforts, especially police, which showed the highest levels of cooperation and coordination.
Inspection teams meet regularly to address issues that may hamper their operations.

He said the teams keep track of developments in vital sectors such as building and construction, maintenance and operations contracting, wholesale and retail, hospitality and tourists’ accommodation, food services and commercial markets.
Educational, commercial, industrial and health sectors also come under their preview.
The source said that inspection teams continue their operations to ensure that labor laws are being implemented in various sectors and arrest violators.

The last campaign was highly successful in eliminating violators and regulating the labor market, which reflected positively on legal workers and businessmen.
The campaign’s success will also strengthen the system, deterring any possible violators, said business leaders and residents.
Ibrahim Mohammad, a Pakistani national, said workers have become more conscious of Saudi Arabia’s residency and labor laws because of the effective campaign.
Abdul Aziz Al-Hassan appreciated the efforts of the Interior and Labor ministries and the Passport Department in correcting labor status.

Capt. Ahmad Al-Mutairi, media spokesman at Qassim Passport Office, said the province’s passport office is ready to support any correction campaign.
Mohammad Abdul Rahim, an Arab worker, said he has been working in the Kingdom for a long time. His sponsor shows no concern about his workplace as long as he gets his monthly fee.
He said he is pleased with the correction campaign because it will prevent some people from exploiting workers.

Mohammad Sirajuddin, an Asian worker, said he is keen to stay on in the Kingdom legally because it will facilitate his work and protect him from penalties.
He said he could not rectify his status before because his sponsor was outside the country.