New plan to prosecute agents of illegal maids

DAMMAM/RIYADH: The Ministry of Labor and the Public Security have agreed on a new plan to prosecute offenders involved in the illicit trafficking of domestic workers which is against the Kingdom’s residency and work regulations.

Citizens and residents are urged to have no dealings with those who supply maids illegally.
This decision was made at a meeting between Labor Minister Mufrej Al-Haqabani and Public Security Director Othman bin Naser Al-Muhraj at the ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh. The purpose of the meeting was to find a way to monitor and track violations related to the illegal trafficking of housemaids.
The meeting was attended by Ahmad Al-Humaidan, deputy labor minister, Abdullah Abuthunyan, undersecretary for planning, development and information, Ahmad Al-Hadlaq, public security director for field operations and Abdul Aziz Al-Hassan, director of the general department for combating cybercrimes in the public security department.
The participants discussed the causes for domestic workers running away from their employers along with security, physical and social consequences.
They stressed the importance of coordinating efforts between the ministry and security in order to receive regular reports on domestic workers who have run away from their employers.
Also discussed were means of facilitating the reports by using modern technology and its applications.
The Labor Ministry announced earlier that the relevant departments are working to monitor violations related to ads in the media by unauthorized individuals or entities which sell or lease domestic workers illegally.
At the same time, the Gulf states are working on unified legislation pertaining to national and expatriate employment which will be adopted by the end of 2016. The legislation will be mandatory for all member states.
Speaking to a local newspaper, Amer Al-Hajair, the director at the executive office of the Council of Ministers of Labor and Social Affairs, the first point to be dealt with in the new regulations will be in relation to household workers.
According to him, there are efforts to unify the GCC labor system on these points as some differences remain between the Kingdom and other GCC states.
He said the plan would include outstanding economic and social issues, in addition to pending legislation, and would set clear deadlines for the implementation of the resolutions.