30,000 requests to transfer domestic workers to private sector

Close on the heels of the decision allowing transfer of domestic workers (Article 20) to work in the private sector (Article 18), last July, the General Administration of Residency Affairs received about 30,000 transfer requests, in the period from July 14 to mid-August, of which about 10,000 requests were completed.

This initiative gave domestic workers a fresh impetus to upgrade their financial status, as well it filled the dearth of labor that has affected some companies, especially the construction sector, more so after the deportation of about 80,000 violators in the past months.

Informed sources as reported by the Arabic daily Al Rai pointed out that the ‘Residency Affairs’ department is coordinating with the Public Authority for Manpower to accelerate the pace of transferring workers between the two sectors, before the deadline ends on September 12.

These initiatives would revive the labor market, especially in the construction sector, which is witnessing growth in terms of building new residential cities. This also contributes to ending the phenomenon of “bachelors” that some private residential areas suffer from.

On another note, sources revealed that the ‘Residency Affairs’ department issued about 70,000 entry visas, distributed between commercial, tourist and family visas, in about 6 months.

They related that the administration is making a remarkable effort to issue these visas, according to specified terms and conditions, and in line with the decision of the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef and his call to consider the humanitarian aspect in reuniting families of residents.

Sources stated that the number of those who were issued a “family joining” visa for the wife, and children under the age of 15 reached about 12,000 who met the conditions, and there are about 20,000 other applications still under review.