It is illegal for companies and sponsors to keep passports of foreign workers

 In Saudi Arabia, passports are required to be kept by expatriate workers, but many still keep them at the offices where they work. Many fear that they will be lost if they are taken to shelters.

The Saudi Ministry of Public Security has stated that it is illegal for companies and sponsors to keep passports of foreign workers. The decision in this regard was taken four and a half years ago. The workers were asked to return their passports and other identification documents.

Authorities have warned that seizing passports could be a serious offense. Authorities have warned that human trafficking could become a felony.

Most companies and institutions return passports to workers. In this context, it is advisable for workers to keep their passports in their own custody.

This can lead to confusion as to where the passport is in later emergencies. If a passport is lost, workers will never have the right to argue that it belongs to the company or the sponsor.