Thousands arrested in first Saudi worker raids

Almost 4000 were picked up in Jeddah in the kingdom’s west, while another 300 were found in Madinah. Figures for the capital Riyadh and elsewhere in the country were not reported.

More than 4 million expats changed their worker status during the six-month amnesty period, while another 1 million left the country without penalty, according to official departments.

However, many were unable to legalise their status before the November 3 deadline, most likely because they did not have the required identification papers or did not have a sponsor.

Authorities had warned raids would take place at businesses and public places immediately after the deadline.

Local media reported that business owners shut their shops for fear of being raided, while commercial activity slowed at the Jeddah Islamic Port.

Some schools also reportedly closed on Monday because of a continuing lack of clarity around the legal status of some teachers and teachers’ aids.

The Ministry of Labor later announced that private schools would be exempt from the raids during the first term to allow them more time to sort out the issue.

A reduction in foreign workers operating roadside food stalls – illegally – also has led to some food price hikes, while other businesses have complained that they could be forced to close down because they cannot find qualified Saudi workers to fill the place of foreigners who were more willing to do menial work.

In Jeddah, at least 3000 Indonesian workers protested, claiming they had been prevented from legalising their status, Arab News reported.

“We had tried for weeks to regularise our status, but officials are insisting we bring our original passports and other documents which we are unable to do,” one illegal worker said.

Those caught violating the rules face two years in jail and a SR50,000 fine.

Saudi Arabia also recently opened a 35,000-capacity detention centre for illegal residents, the largest in the kingdom.