The Labor Ministry’s office in the Eastern province plans to carry out labor inspection campaigns during Ramadan to prevent violating expatriates from working in shops.

Those found to be in violation of the labor rules would be fined, imprisoned and deported. Punishments will be enforced against both expatriates and their Saudi employers.

Mohammad Al-Faleh, director of the Labor Ministry’s branch in the Eastern Province, said illegal workers will be deported and prevented from entering the Kingdom for two years.

In addition to permanent closure of the store, employers might be fined SR5,000 for the first violation and SR20,000 for the second time or imprisonment for three months.

Saudis who allow their employees to work for someone else, and do not report their absconding workers according to the rules and regulations, will be severely punished.

In all cases, penalties multiply according to the number of violating individuals. Violating expatriates are deported at the expense of the employer.

If the illegal expats are self employed, then they will bear the cost of their own deportation.

Violating employers will be prevented from recruiting for one year for the first violation, two years for the second and three years for the third.

Meanwhile, Jubail Mayor Badar Al-Otaishan launched a new customer service hall at the Jubail Labor Office.