PAM reveals 400 files referred to Public Prosecution for human trafficking

The Deputy Director General for Manpower Protection at PAM, Dr. Mubarak Al-Azmi, said, “During the period of the coronavirus pandemic, we formed two crisis and emergency teams in addition to the existing inspection teams to monitor the conditions of expatriate workers. During this period, we received 3,000 complaints, of which 2,300 were provided assistance in addition to other urgent matters during this crisis including the state’s deportation of residency visa violators. As well as handing workers who wanted to return to their homelands, the travel of 800 expats to their country was facilitated in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and Civil Aviation.”

Non-payment of salaries

Regarding PAM’s procedures for complaints of non-payment of salaries, Al-Azmi explained that “with regard to salaries, we start by calling the employer through the Ministry of Interior, and we try to reach friendly solutions and often receive their cooperation, so that we can ensure the workers get their salaries, and if there is no cooperation, measures are taken against the perpetrator in coordination with the Ministry of Interior.” He explained that all complaints are dealt with, whether the employees strike or issue a normal complaint.

PAM made sure 1,980 employees were paid their salaries during the pandemic period, because some employers found it difficult to communicate with their workers, under these circumstances, and therefore, we prompted the handover process by ensuring the payments were made at the authority’s headquarters.

He pointed out that some employers were unable to pay salaries as they had no financial liquidity, and in such cases, they were referred to the judiciary, stressing that the most important thing is to fulfill workers’ rights and ease the process for their return to their home countries.

Human Trafficking

Regarding human trafficking complaints, Al-Azmi explained that “after receiving any complaints, we look into the registered files of employers to find any problems regarding the employment of workers.”

He added that an investigation is launched against anyone on suspicion of residency visa trading, or human trafficking, and PAM gathers information of these crimes before handing the file over to the Public Prosecution or the General Department of Investigations.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis PAM has sent 400 files to the prosecution, and is continuing to uncover any company or institution that has been involved in these crimes. Already 3,000 files have been closed.

Al-Azmi noted that in the upcoming period, work will be progress in the same pace under the mentioned mechanism that the authority has been dutifully carrying out in the last period, with a focus on the suspended files and their owners who have failed to adhere to the rules and fix violations the inspection teams have revealed.

Al-Azmi urged employers who have labor problems to find solutions and complete the necessary procedures because the authority will not fail to implement the law.