THE SAUDI MINISTRY OF LABOR HAS DISCUSSED THE GRANT OF FOREIGN WORKERS' SPONSORSHIP CHANGES AND REENTRY-EXIT VISA PROCEDURES WITHOUT THE SPONSOR'S PERMISSION. PRIVATE SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES AND INDUSTRY LEADERS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE DISCUSSION. THE LABOR MINISTRY WILL PREPARE A REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ISSUES DISCUSSED.
THE TALKS WERE HELD AT THE KING ABDUL AZIZ NATIONAL DIALOGUE CENTER. THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE DISCUSSION WAS TO IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT IN THE COUNTRY. AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WERE MANY PROPOSALS THAT WOULD HELP SAUDI'S REPUTATION ABROAD.
THE MAIN ISSUES DISCUSSED WERE SWITCHING SPONSORSHIP, RE-ENTRY AND EXIT VISA PROCEDURES ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT THE EMPLOYER'S PERMISSION. IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE NEW EMPLOYER BE PERMITTED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY AFTER THE LAPSE OF ONE YEAR OR THE PREDETERMINED PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT.
SIMILARLY, FOREIGN WORKERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO ON RE-ENTRY VISAS WHEN THEY WISH. HOWEVER, THOSE WHO LEAVE THE COUNTRY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO COME UNDER ANOTHER EMPLOYER FOR FIVE YEARS IF THEY DO NOT RETURN WITHIN THE STIPULATED TIME. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT EVERYONE BE ALLOWED TO DO SO WITHOUT PROFESSIONAL CONSIDERATION.
BUT IT WAS HELD THAT THE PERSON WHO IS GOING ON THE EXIT VISA SHOULD OBTAIN THE PERMISSION OF THE EMPLOYER. PARTICIPANTS IN THE NEGOTIATIONS SAID THE EXIT SHOULD BE BARRED FOR FIVE YEARS UNDER THE NEW EMPLOYER BEFORE THE CONTRACT EXPIRES.
THE LABOR MINISTRY SAID THE AIM OF THE NEW TALKS AND PROPOSALS WAS TO ACTIVELY EMPLOY EXISTING WORKERS IN THE COUNTRY, REDUCE RECRUITMENT, ENHANCE SAUDI'S REPUTATION ABROAD AND REDUCE RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.
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