Saudi Arabia: Empty promises as crackdown intensifies l Amnesty International.

[Kompromat]

21 October 2013 Saudi Arabia: Empty promises as
crackdown intensifies

www.amnesty.org/en/news/saudi-arabia-empty-promises-crackdown-intensifies-2013-10-18


Thousands of Pakistanis along with Indians,Bangladeshis,Yamenis and others are at the risk of torture and imprisonment.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that some Pakistani prisoners have set themselves on fire in protest. No media reports as expected.

I hope, our Prime minister Mr Nawaz Sharif al-Saud has time for these slaves.

 

[Arabian Legend]

Torture and imprisonment and Pakistanis setting themselves on fire! really? where at? Anyway the Saudi authorities have given enough period for everyone residing in the country to rectify their visa stats or deportation is the way to go.

 

[BATMAN]

I was my self in Riyadh and have seen Saudi officials, deporting planes load of illegal Asians.

To my surprise, most of deported Pakistanis were actually Afghanis, who could not even speak a word of Urdu.
They had bought Pakistani passport from interior ministry of previous Govt. of Asif Ali Zardari.
May be this move of Saudi Arabia, help us indirectly to clean the garbage spread around the globe by last govt.

In any case, no one is being deported from Saudi Arabia, without reason.... people with expired visa would face same fate any where, only difference is that Saudi Arabia has lot of them. thanks to Haj/Umra visa.

 

[al-Hasani]

Torture and imprisonment and Pakistanis setting themselves on fire! really? where at? Anyway the Saudi authorities have given enough period for everyone residing in the country to rectify their visa stats or deportation is the way to go.

First time I hear about this as well. Setting themselves on fire? Where and when?

The rules are the same for all non-nationals whether they happen to be Arab migrants or non-Arab migrants, Muslim, non-Muslim, black, red, brown, white or Eskimos.

King Abdullah extended an amnesty for foreign workers to obtain legal status in the country at the start of July until November 3, from the previous deadline of July 3.

And if I recall it correctly then the July 3 deadline was not even the original deadline because it was extended too. So now people demand a 4 new deadline while many new migrants want to enter KSA, including Pakistanis. Is that fair?

 

[Arabian Legend]

I was my self in Riyadh and have seen Saudi officials, deporting planes load of illegal Asians.

To my surprise, most of deported Pakistanis were actually Afghanis, who could not even speak a word of Urdu.
They had bought Pakistani passport from interior ministry of previous Govt. of Asif Ali Zardari.
May be this move of Saudi Arabia, help us indirectly to clean the garbage spread around the globe by last govt.

In any case, no one is being deported from Saudi Arabia, without reason.... people with expired visa would face same fate any where, only difference is that Saudi Arabia has lot of them. thanks to Haj/Umra visa.

Indeed, afghanis people living in the country are making a lot of noise and guess what! they don't want to leave despite being illegals. Not only afghanis but from different countries as well.

As for Pakistanis here I quote

ISLAMABAD - 800,000 Pakistani workers have legalised their status so far ahead of the fast approaching amnesty deadline, Pakistani Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan said.
During an interview with the Arab News, the envoy thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman for their decision to extend the amnesty deadline for expatriates until Nov 3.
“I would also like to extend my appreciation to the Saudi Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs and Labour as well as the Immigration Department for their cooperation and support especially to the Pakistani community in the Kingdom,” Naeem Khan said.
“It is a huge success for us to achieve the goal to legalise our nationals,” he added. The Ambassador pointed out that a total of 729,932 Pakistani workers have already benefited from the amnesty deadline, while more than 396,152 nationals have already changed their sponsorships and 333,780 workers their professions to legalise their status in the Kingdom. “Our assessment is that more than 800,000 people have corrected their status, if we include those who came to Saudi Arabia on Umrah and Haj visas and other domestic workers like drivers, housemaids, watchman and agricultural workers,” he said.
“It would be helpful for those remaining Pakistanis who have not yet been able to regularise their status if special concession and grace period is announced by the Saudi authorities,” he added. Addressing the issue of nationals who will not be able to correct their status, the Ambassador said: “We are going to start a new registration campaign after the amnesty deadline in which we will facilitate procedures for those who are not covered by the existing amnesty period.” Elaborating on this, he said: “The Embassy has created 80 different focal points all over the Kingdom to help illegal workers register with the Embassy.” “We have arranged many job fairs inside the Embassy and in many Pakistani institutions in Riyadh, Jeddah, Alkhobar, Dammam and Jubail. Staff members at the diplomatic missions in the Pakistani Embassy and the Consulate General in Jeddah worked day in and day out,” he said.
“We are thankful to representatives of participating companies, whose contribution is important for the rectification of illegal workers,” he said. The Ambassador added: “We also thank Pakistani volunteers for their facilities and their valuable time in helping undocumented workers. More than 400 companies have already registered at the Pakistani Embassy to recruit those workers.” Naeem Khan emphasised the fact that all undocumented workers must legalise their status before the Nov 3 deadline. He urged Pakistani workers who did find jobs to coordinate with the Embassy and Consulate General in Jeddah for help. With the new concessions in the Saudi Arabian labour laws, he explained, “workers who arrived in the Kingdom after April 6 as freelancers or those who are declared as runaway workers are not included in the amnesty. They should not hesitate to register with the Embassy, focal points and the Consulate General in Jeddah.” “Umrah and Haj overstayers who possess no documentation to claim that they entered the Kingdom legally and are not even fingerprinted, should immediately contact us.
We will try to help them and find a way to legalise them.”
The Ministry of Labour earlier stressed that after the expiry of the amnesty deadline, penalties will be imposed on violators and their employers.
The recruiters of illegal workers could face jail upto two years and fines of up to SR 100,000.

 

[Kompromat]

The issue is not illegality, its the problem with labor laws of saudi arabia where expact workers are systematically exploited through 'kafeel' system.

Its in fact a Saudi with a bunch of Pakistani slaves whom instead of paying for work they force the workers to pay THEM for 'keeping them'.

Just because you were in Riadh and you saw some people being deported doesn't mean you have the grip on the situation.

Btw Afghans are human beings too, just in case you didn't know !

@BATMAN

 

[Aamna14]

The issue is not illegality, its the problem with labor laws of saudi arabia where expact workers are systematically exploited through 'kafeel' system.

Its in fact a Saudi with a bunch of Pakistani slaves whom instead of paying for work they force the workers to pay THEM for 'keeping them'.

Just because you were in Riadh and you saw some people being deported doesn't mean you have the grip on the situation.

Btw Afghans are human beings too, just in case you didn't know !

@BATMAN

Sorry for my lack of knowledge on the subject but whats the whole kafeel thing?

 

[Kompromat]

@Arabian Ledgend

One of the suicide incidents has repotedly taken place in Buraydah city, in Al Qassim Province. There's media blckout. 
@Aamna14

Kafeel is a Saudi Citizen who in most cases is NOT your employer but your 'broker'. An expact worker gets a 'sponser' to go to Saudi Arabia where he's in all practicality a 'property' of his 'kafeel'.

He cant switch jobs, cant escape his kafeel, cant go from one city to another for work if his 'kafeel' doesn't 'feel like it'.

The 'amaal' or slave has to pay monthly extortion or a three monthly extortion to his 'kafeel' for 'keeping him'.

No its not from the 8th century....its from 2013.

 

[Android]

Over a million Indians secure their stay ahead of Saudi
deadline

Extension of amnesty for those not in compliance with Nitaqat laws unlikely
Anxiety has gripped a section of foreign workers – mostly in the blue collar
category – who face a Sunday deadline to either find new jobs or complete
formalities for their exit from Saudi Arabia as the Arab state has embarked on a
new set of labour laws to generate more employment for its own nationals.
Among the bulk of foreign workers from South Asia, Indians appeared best
prepared to comply with the Kingdom’s new rules.
The Indian embassy in Riyadh said in a statement that by October 21, more than
one million Indians had realigned their status in accordance with Saudi Arabia’s
new laws. Among them, 3,59,997 had found new employment, 3,55,035 had
managed to change their job title, and 4,66,689 had renewed their residence
permit.
Saudi Arabia’s total population of around 28 million has a heavy expat
component of around nine million, says the website arabianbusiness.com.
Labour reforms after Arab Spring
The Kingdom began to seriously focus on labour reforms following the Arab
Spring, when youth unemployment became a major trigger for uprisings that
brought down several regimes in the region.
Learning from that experience, the Kingdom launched its Nitaqat policy, which
mandated that the country’s private sector must ensure that Saudi nationals
make up at least 10 per cent of the workforce.
Those who were displaced—mostly from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
and the Philippines — were granted an extended amnesty to either find new jobs,
re-negotiate their contracts, or leave the country, without incurring penalties.
Diplomatic sources in the Indian embassy said that emergency certificates were
issued to those who wished to leave but due to situational exigencies, did not
have a valid passport with them. However, it had been hard to issue emergency
travel documents to workers who had no record to substantiate their claim of
having had passports, or legal residency permits, in the past.
The embassy statement said 77,054 Indians had been issued emergency
certificates, out of which an estimated 95 per cent were able to leave the
country.
The mission has also set up help cells at the labour and deportation centres to
assist those who are not eligible to benefit from the grace period concessions.
Analysts say that it is highly unlikely that those without emergency certificates
will get relief after the Sunday deadline expires.
No further extension of deadline
Local officials ruled out a further extension of the amnesty, the Saudi daily Arab
News reported. On the contrary, inspectors are set to raid commercial enterprises
from Monday to ensure that those expats who do not possess legal documents
are removed from the workforce to face an uncertain future.

www.thehindu.com/news/international/world/over-a-million-indians-secure-their-stay-ahead-of-saudi-deadline/article5309909.ece?mstac=0

 

[Arabian Legend]

The issue is not illegality, its the problem with labor laws of saudi arabia where expact workers are systematically exploited through 'kafeel' system.

Its in fact a Saudi with a bunch of Pakistani slaves whom instead of paying for work they force the workers to pay THEM for 'keeping them'.

Just because you were in Riadh and you saw some people being deported doesn't mean you have the grip on the situation.

Btw Afghans are human beings too, just in case you didn't know !

@BATMAN

@Arabian Ledgend

One of the suicide incidents has repotedly taken place in Buraydah city, in Al Qassim Province. There's media blckout. 
@Aamna14

Kafeel is a Saudi Citizen who in most cases is NOT your employer but your 'broker'. An expact worker gets a 'sponser' to go to Saudi Arabia where he's in all practicality a 'property' of his 'kafeel'.

He cant switch jobs, cant escape his kafeel, cant go from one city to another for work if his 'kafeel' doesn't 'feel like it'.

The 'amaal' or slave has to pay monthly extortion or a three monthly extortion to his 'kafeel' for 'keeping him'.

No its not from the 8th century....its from 2013.

Workers have the right to raise their issues to the authority if they face unfairly treatment or are being exploited under any circumstance.

And no your info is not right, what happened in Burdiyah has nothing to do with non Saudis at all. So no Pakistanis have set themselves on fire it was bunch of Saudis who sat the place on fire. Please be accurate when reporting the news.

 

[BATMAN]

The issue is not illegality, its the problem with labor laws of saudi arabia where expact workers are systematically exploited through 'kafeel' system.

Its in fact a Saudi with a bunch of Pakistani slaves whom instead of paying for work they force the workers to pay THEM for 'keeping them'.

Just because you were in Riadh and you saw some people being deported doesn't mean you have the grip on the situation.

Btw Afghans are human beings too, just in case you didn't know !

@BATMAN

I made inquiries at airport, with deportees, just about 2 months ago, and all of them were being deported for correct reasons.
Now since you have never been to the place, so by your formulae, you shall not discuss the matter at all.
Neither, I mentioned, Afghans are not humans!
Whereas, Kafeel system is definitely **** to exploitation and about, 1 out of 100 is exploiting it.
Now, the recent control of the govt. is exposing it. Police does not make any concessions for Saudis either, kafeel is also fined, when some of his worker complain or violate labor laws.
The strict control of the govt. is good to promote geniun kafeels, and certainly not good for visa sellers.
It also help to cut the crime.
In Pakistan, we have ministry who register every overseas employee and his visa particulars.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

No body died at Buraydah. The fire was caused by the kitchen of the two in-charge correctional officers and advisers. The chances that non-Saudis died their are equal to the chances where my grandpa's house was bombarded by a B1 Lancer in Dallas.

That block where the fire started is a high profile facility that only officers and agents are allowed.

@Arabian Ledgend

One of the suicide incidents has repotedly taken place in Buraydah city, in Al Qassim Province. There's media blckout. 
@Aamna14

Kafeel is a Saudi Citizen who in most cases is NOT your employer but your 'broker'. An expact worker gets a 'sponser' to go to Saudi Arabia where he's in all practicality a 'property' of his 'kafeel'.

He cant switch jobs, cant escape his kafeel, cant go from one city to another for work if his 'kafeel' doesn't 'feel like it'.

The 'amaal' or slave has to pay monthly extortion or a three monthly extortion to his 'kafeel' for 'keeping him'.

No its not from the 8th century....its from 2013.

 

[Kompromat]

Saudi Arabia rounds up migrant workers as amnesty ends

4 November 2013Last updated at 16:07 GMT

Saudi Arabia is rounding up thousands of illegal migrant workers, after an amnesty introducing new employment rules expired.

Nearly a million Bangladeshis, Indians, Filipinos, Nepalis, Pakistanis and Yemenis are estimated to have left the country in the last three months. Four million others obtained work permits before Sunday's deadline.

Some 3,000 Indonesian illegal workers in Jeddah are in detention, awaiting deportation, Indonesian officials say. They had gathered under a flyover with all their belongings, giving themselves up to the authorities. An estimated nine million migrant workers in Saudi Arabia - more than half the workforce - fill manual, clerical, and service jobs.

Saudi Arabia has the Arab world's largest economy, but the authorities are trying to reduce the 12% unemployment rate among native Saudis. The government is carrying out its threat that if any illegal migrants are left they will be punished by fines, prison or deportation. Companies that break the new rules will also face penalties.

Human Rights Watch has denounced the country's labour system as "abusive".

"The kafala, or sponsorship system ties migrant workers' residency permits to sponsoring employers, whose written consent is required for workers to change employers or leave the country," it has said.

"Employers often abuse this power in violation of Saudi law to confiscate passports, withhold wages and force migrants to work against their will or on exploitative terms."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24810033 

Workers have the right to raise their issues to the authority if they face unfairly treatment or are being exploited under any circumstance.

And no your info is not right, what happened in Burdiyah has nothing to do with non Saudis at all. So no Pakistanis have set themselves on fire it was bunch of Saudis who sat the place on fire. Please be accurate when reporting the news.

My source could be right or wrong, therefore i made a speculation not a judgement. I hope you understand.

@Yzd Khalifa

I have not argued against the crackdown itself, its the job of your govt to clean up their labor practices and market, any country would do that. Moreover, the issue is 'Unfair Treatment' not the implementation of the law. Yes people that have overstayed their visas and don't have appropriate working rights and so on, need to be apprehended and deported.

Kafils need to be apprehended who exploit their Amaals and punished, however it needs to be done in an orderly way instead of making those people's lives more hard who already are not doing what they are doing, out of free will but compulsion. Most of whom in most cases are the only breadwinners for their families and kids.

The discussion here is on Human rights nothing else.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

Some 3,000 Indonesian illegal workers in Jeddah are in detention, awaiting deportation, Indonesian officials say. They had gathered under a flyover with all their belongings, giving themselves up to the authorities. An estimated nine million migrant workers in Saudi Arabia - more than half the workforce - fill manual, clerical, and service jobs.

I'm in Jeddah. True, they were hold in detention to the get into their planes back home on their own will.

But the question now is, will everybody blame KSA for this especially when these people did such things as these? And to whom? To their own people at their own consulate?

 

[al-Hasani]

@Aeronaut

I respect you dearly as a fellow Muslim and a wise user whom I have had many interesting debates with and whom I believe wants the best for the Muslim world.

You see Saudi Arabia like any other country has faults and laws that are not beneficiary and that cannot be changed overnight due to a lot of reasons. Some understandable and some less understandable.

What I want to say though is that such decisions are never easy. At one point you have a very young Saudi Arabian population of whom over 66% are under the age of 35 (if I remember correctly - somebody correct me if I am wrong) and among them there is significant unemployment due to a lot of reasons again. Some due to the high amount of non-nationals who are eager and allowed to come to KSA in search of work that is often driving down the payments and making local Saudi Arabians outsourced because the migrants are often willing to work for a lower pay, for longer hours and in environments that many locals would not want to do for such a pay.

At the other hand you have a country that is largely truth to its Islamic principles in terms of allowing and inviting every Muslim to KSA that want to contribute no matter ethnicity. Non-Muslim as well btw. There is a huge demand that way too. We know that if it was possible then many more migrant workers would be working in KSA.

Not only that KSA like any other country in the world has a right not to lose its complete identity because if there were no restrictions Saudi Arabians would be outnumbered by all the willing immigrants 10-1 or so.

It is a balance between two different poles. More and gradual independence on most fronts which is a necessity for every country or a continuation or even a more expanding grow of migrants. It is not that easy.

And I have not even talked about all the ILLEGAL migrants. We are talking about possibly 1-2 MILLION people. The population of KSA is also closer to 33 million or so if all people are counted than the often stated 28 million.

I am ready and I believe that the Saudi Arabian government should be too, to discuss another way, different solutions, abolishments of some laws but the question is how, when and at what cost.

I would be interested to hear your solution if there even exists a solution that can make all parties satisfied.

About the abuse or slavery that you imply, which I am quite disappointed about since you know that this is only done by a small, small but unfortunately vocal minority, then I would like you to ask your fellow compatriots on this forum who in this very moment happen to live in KSA. Some alone and some with relatives. Or people who have lived in the country in recent times. I cannot believe that they regard themselves as slaves or feel like ones. In fact I find such implications insulting since I don't like the thought of that taking place in real life which it undoubtedly does unfortunately among some circles. JUST like everywhere else in the world to some degrees and in other ways.