Nearly SR4 million was paid to residents and citizens for the damages caused to them by recruiting agents.

The Ministry of Labor collected SR4 million from the defaulting recruiting agents to pay aggrieved citizens and residents in the Kingdom.

Khalid Abalkhail, the ministry’s media spokesman, said that during the past 12 months, some 1,500 complaints from citizens and residents were received by the ministry against labor violations among recruiting agents.

“Nearly SR4 million was paid to residents and citizens for the damages caused to them by recruiting agents by way of denying or delaying the promised manpower supply to the beneficiaries,” he said.

He explained that out of the 1,500 complaints, 937 cases were settled amicably between the two parties, while another 490 cases were settled by the ministry, and another 74 cases are still under arbitration.

The ministry official warned people not to deal with unlicensed recruiting agents who can fleece money from innocent parties and defraud their customers. He said such suspicious individuals or organizations should be reported to the ministry through its toll free phone number, 19911, or through the nearest branch office of the labor department.

He also said that the Labor Ministry has a list of approved recruiting agents who are empowered to coordinate with residents and citizens in the field of labor recruitment.

The ministry has called on recruitment offices to submit a quarterly report to the labor office they are affiliated with. In addition, they are obliged to account for the number of Saudis who found jobs; the reasons behind why citizens were unable to find employment; and the office’s activities during the past year.

“This report should include suggestions and notes that contribute toward the development of the Saudi labor force and employment opportunities, and must lay special emphasis on the needs of the local market and its changing requirements,” he said.

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