stoobb

Hi.

Just curious.

Is it legal for sponsors to hold on to staff passports in exchange for Iqamas and vice versa when we go on holiday?

Or is it just the done thing in KSA?

Thanks.

norsk

No it's not legal, but they still do it. I initially had to get signoff from the CEO to keep my passport when I was working in Saudi, but then I moved to Bahrain so kind of had to have it to cross the border every day...

I also remember we had to get colleagues/friends to sign for our debts to the company when we went on holiday. In case we didn't come back...

They are so backward it's unreal....I always used to tell the HR Director that if you stop treating people like shit they won't run away! The wall had better listening skills though..

scot47

Common practice in KSA. Many employees get very uptight about this. It never bothered me that much.

When you say it is illegal, what do you mean ? A contravention of Saudi law ? I hardly think so. They make the rules within the Magiuc Kingdom. You could ask Carleton-Browne at the FO. When he says it is illeagel what do you imagine he is going to do ? Send a gunboat to remonstrate with the rulers of Hejaz-Nejd ?

norsk

I'm pretty sure the law states that they cannot hold the passports of their employees. Which law exactly? No idea..

Anyway there were a couple of instances of companies being fined relatively big amounts while I was there for 'losing' passports. There was a construction company that had a fire in their head office if I remember correctly and several thousand employees were stuck up shit creek (as you can imagine for some countries getting a new passport is not necessarily straightforward so they were effectively stranded in KSA for quite some time)...

tbop

Surely you cant be forced to give up your passport - it contravenes international law.

OleJanx

As if that bothers the Saudi's one bit...

sicklyman

my contractor holds passport in their head office downtown. When I want to leave, I pick it up in exchange for the iqama, my driving license etc. I don't know anyone who has had their passport lost through this process. I have yet to use this process though because I haven't got to my first leave date yet...

Bahtatboy

Don't think so--no multinational treaty on it as far as I'm aware. However, your passport doesn't belong to you, its the property of Her Majesty, which leads us back to FCO and gunboats...

sicklyman

check this out...

http://www.arabnews.com/news/449793

might take a copy of that article in to my contractor next time I visit

busybee2

no buts a lot of companies do not much you can do about it, some companies will not pay you in they do not hold your passport etc

nonthaburi

When I came here they kept it because they were making the Iqama . After I got that they initially kept it until I went on holiday for the 1st time . I then said that I needed the Iqama too in case there was a problem re-entering the country and never gave the passport back to them when I cam back . They have asked for it and I've told them that they can keep a copy and if someone needs to see the real thing I will bring it in . They seem happy enough with this so far . The thing is , if you don't have a multiple exit visa you still need the company to make an exit visa for you so it's not like you can do a runner anyway . I don't know that I trust them not to lose it though .

Bahtatboy

You worry too much. It will be in the safe hands of the diligent and trust-worthy PRO or the capable and resourceful HR Department.

busybee2

sometimes people leave their labour card instead.

mentalist

The OP was talking about Saudi Arabia. Not sure if they have labour cards, only Iqamas.

busybee2

yes it was a generalisation....