Cairo: Saudi labour authorities had arrested 47 expatriates illegally working at a vegetable and fruit market in Riyadh as part of a clampdown on irregular migrant workers. The 47 have violated the kingdom’s residency and labour regulations, according to Saudi media.
They were handed over to the directorate in charge of expatriates to finalise their deportation procedures.
The illegals had been exposed during inspection tours conducted by teams affiliated with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in the Riyadh region. The inspectors, moreover, recorded 42 breaches of the Saudi labour system.
The ministry’s branch in Riyadh has said it receives reports on labour violations via the smart app “Together for Monitoring” and the hotline 19911. In November, Saudi Arabia unveiled major labour reforms, allowing job mobility and regulating the exit and re-entry visa issuance for expatriate workers without employers' approval.
Millions of migrant workers in the kingdom stand to benefit from the reforms, which will come into effect in March. However, the reforms, drastically revamping the country’s sponsorship system, will not apply to domestic workers including chauffeurs, gardeners and home guards, according to local media.