Saudi Arabia warns firms of SR100,000 fines, recruitment ban over illegal workers

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior has issued stern warnings to companies employing expatriates who breach residency and labor laws. Penalties can include fines of up to SR100,000, a prohibition on recruiting foreign workers for up to five years, and the possibility of imprisonment for one year, followed by deportation. The regulation extends to establishments that allow their workers to freelance or take on jobs with other employers, as well as those found employing individuals registered with different businesses.

The ministry has also urged the public to cooperate in preventing violations of residency, labor, and border security rules by not employing, sheltering, transporting, or concealing offenders. Anyone with information about such violations can report it through designated phone numbers in various cities or the national hotline. Reports are kept confidential, and those providing information will not face legal repercussions.

The ministry's warnings extend to private companies, with ten firms already penalized for offering unlicensed recruitment services.