Jeddah, Jul 29: Firms applying for recruitment visas should have their addresses registered with the Saudi Post on or before Sept. 7 in order to get their applications accepted by the Labor Ministry, it was announced yesterday.
“The acceptance of applications for recruitment will depend on whether the firm has registered or activated the national postal service,” said Labor Minister Adel Fakeih.
He said access to all other services of the ministry would also be linked with postal service activation, beginning Jan. 2. “This measure will also be linked with the Nitaqat system,” he added.
Fakeih’s statement follows an agreement signed by his ministry with Saudi Post to renew and upgrade the addresses of private firms and ensure their correctness.
The minister said the postal address would help labor inspectors locate a firm quickly and give it summons in case of a labor dispute. “It will also support the ongoing labor correction process,” he added.
Prevention of illegal visa business is another objective of the measure, said Fakeih. “There were instances when a firm would open an office to apply for recruitment visas. After obtaining visas the office is closed. Then another party opens the same office to apply for visas.”
The introduction of the new postal system would enable the ministry to find out recruitment applications received from an office and how the visas were used.
The new measure was taken on the basis of a Cabinet decision, Fakeih said, urging all firms to register or activate their national postal service with the Saudi Post before the deadline.
Last June, the Cabinet passed a decision instructing individuals and companies in the Kingdom to register their local addresses with the Civil Affairs Department or Saudi Post.
Mohammed Benten, president of Saudi Post, said the postal address would be included in the IDs of Saudis and expats.
“The move is aimed at facilitating government actions that require a quick response.”
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