Two-year ban proposed for expats leaving on exit visas

Riyadh, Nov2 (ArabNews): A Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC) labor market committee has put forth a recommendation banning expats who have left the country on final exit visas from returning to the Kingdom for work for a period of two years.
The recommendation, which will be submitted to higher authorities for approval, was adopted by the committee at a meeting hosted by the Asharqia Chamber.
“This recommendation was based on a similar successful measure taken by a neighboring Gulf country,” said Mansoor Al-Shethri, chairman of the committee.
“If implemented, the measure is bound to boost nationalization in the business sector,” he said.
“The recommendation is a follow-up on a previous Cabinet resolution issued in 1975 and updated in 1977, which imposes a three-year ban on expat workers who left the Kingdom in violation of their contracts.”
He added: “Another clause within the same resolution stipulates a one-year ban on workers who refused to renew their contracts with their employers.”
Al-Shethri also said that the committee discussed several other issues affecting the labor market, including the recent minimum wage implemented by the Labor Ministry, the CSC and the National Labor Committee.