Fines and jail time for employers who allow expatriates to work for personal benefit

The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) clarified that any Saudi employer who allows his or her expatriate worker to engage in jobs for their own personal gain or in exchange for a sum of money will be punished with a maximum jail term of three months and fines of up to SR 50,000, local media reported citing Jawazat sources. 

The employer who committed this violation for the first time faces a month in jail and a fine of SR 5000. In the event of a second violation, the employer faces two months in prison and an SR 20,000 fine. In the case of a third offense, the employer faces three months in prison and an SR 50,000 fine, according to the report. 

According to the report, the fine will be multiplied by the number of workers the employer allowed to work for their own personal gain in violation of Labor Law regulations.

In the event of allowing self-employment of a worker, the Jawazat states that the employer will be banned from recruiting workers for a period of no less than one year. If the violation is committed a second or third time, the ban will be increased to two years and three years, respectively.

Jawazat earlier warned of a maximum 6-month jail term,  SR 50,000 fine, and deportation for those expatriates who engage in a job for their own personal gain. 

Also Read: Jawazat warns of penalties for self-employed expatriates

If an expatriate hires another expatriate for his benefit, the expatriate employer faces an SR 5,000 fine, a month in jail, or both, as well as deportation from the Kingdom.

In the aforementioned instances, if the new employer is a Saudi national, he will be fined SR 5,000 for the first offense, SR 10,000 or a month in prison or of both for the second offense, and SR 20,000 or three months in prison or of both for the third offense, the report added.