What EXPATS need to know when moving to Saudi Arabia for WORK
Ringkasan
TLDRThe video features a discussion about employment and legal matters for expats living in Saudi Arabia, hosted by a content creator and an expert consultant specializing in labor law and employment affairs. The conversation covers various aspects essential for expats, such as understanding employment contracts properly, the importance of reading digital contracts thoroughly, and being aware of the conditions under which one's job can be changed or terminated. The talk elaborates on the legality of transferring jobs between employers, stressing that visit visas cannot be transitioned into work visas, and cautioning against working on visit visas as it can lead to deportation. There's an exploration of Saudization, which affects visa issuance depending on the percentage of Saudi employees in a business, and the importance of ensuring contracts comply with these rules. They emphasize the risks of engaging in additional income-generating activities which are prohibited for expats. The dialogue highlights the significance of consulting legal experts when in doubt, advocating that knowledge of labor laws is crucial for avoiding costly mistakes. In closing, they advise prospective expats to carefully research potential employers and understand the cultural and legal environment before relocating to Saudi Arabia.
Takeaways
- π Understand your employment contract thoroughly, especially probation periods and clauses.
- π« Visit and tourist visas cannot be converted to work visas.
- π Job transfer is possible through a digital platform if contract conditions are met.
- π¨ Working on a visit visa is illegal and has severe consequences.
- πΈπ¦ Saudization affects employment opportunities for expats.
- π Non-compete clauses must be clear to be enforceable.
- πΌ Know your rights concerning end-of-service compensation.
- π Recent laws aim to align with global standards, attracting talent.
- π Consult legal help if unsure about contracts or legal procedures.
- π Keep track of vacation days and other benefits entitlement.
Garis waktu
- 00:00:00 - 00:05:00
The video starts with an introduction to a guest who specializes in legal advice related to employment and expatriate residence in Saudi Arabia. The host and guest discuss the lack of legal information available online and express the importance of understanding legalities when living with a partner in Saudi Arabia.
- 00:05:00 - 00:10:00
The guest introduces a significant change in employment regulations in Saudi Arabia. Previously, transferring a worker's sponsorship could lead to abuse by employers. Now, employment contracts serve as sponsorship, allowing easier transfer of services without requiring the current employer's consent under certain conditions.
- 00:10:00 - 00:15:00
The conversation turns to discussing the procedures and legalities of employment contracts in Saudi Arabia. Now digital, contracts require careful reading to ensure no hidden clauses. Verbal agreements or offer letters prior to contract signing aren't legally binding, but formal contracts signed in the Kingdom are.
- 00:15:00 - 00:20:00
The guest clarifies about different types of visas and their appropriateness, emphasizing that visit or tourist visas cannot be converted into work permits legally. They warn against employers offering illegal methods to change visa statuses and highlight the necessity of honoring Saudi laws.
- 00:20:00 - 00:25:00
Saudi Arabia implements strict Nitarqat or Saudization policies requiring companies to employ a certain percentage of Saudi nationals. Compliance is essential for companies to get visas for foreign workers, and aligning with these regulations benefits local employment and supports national workforce development.
- 00:25:00 - 00:30:00
There are consequences for bypassing employment regulations; if expatriates are caught working illegally on a visit or tourist visa, penalties can include fines and deportation. The importance of having contractual and legal backing for working in Saudi is stressed. Legal redress is accessible but can be complex.
- 00:30:00 - 00:35:00
The importance of the expatriate employment contract is revisited, particularly clauses related to probation periods and penalties for leaving jobs early. Non-compete clauses are regulated but need to be specified in the contract; these can restrict where and when one can work post-termination.
- 00:35:00 - 00:40:00
The conversation touches on the permits and processes required for employment in Saudi Arabia. Employers must align job titles and roles as specified in eKama (residence permits). Unaligned roles can cause problems for both the employer and the expatriate.
- 00:40:00 - 00:45:00
Host and guest discuss what expatriates should expect at the end of their contract, suggesting that understanding resignation versus non-renewal, and benefits eligibility is crucial. Issues related to non-payment of dues, vacations, ticket reimbursements, and end-of-service benefits are complex but essential.
- 00:45:00 - 00:50:04
The guest ends by discussing how legal developments in Saudi Arabia are essential for aligning with global standards, attracting international talent, and preventing system abuse. They advise thorough company and cultural research before moving to Saudi Arabia and emphasize legal awareness among expatriates.
Peta Pikiran
Pertanyaan yang Sering Diajukan
What should an expat look for in their employment contract in Saudi Arabia?
Expats should ensure the contract specifies probation period, non-compete clauses, and matches any preliminary offer letters.
Can a visit visa be converted to a work visa in Saudi Arabia?
No, visit and tourist visas cannot be converted to work visas. Expats need to return to their country to apply for the appropriate work visa.
What should you do if your employer doesn't renew your Iqama?
You can legally transfer to a new employer after fulfilling contract obligations, or seek legal help if necessary.
What are the penalties for working on a visit visa in Saudi Arabia?
Working on a visit visa is illegal and can lead to fines, deportation, and the employer facing severe penalties.
How can expats legally transfer jobs within Saudi Arabia?
Job transfer is possible by coordinating between old and new employers through the specified digital platform, considering any non-compete clauses.
What is Saudization?
Saudization is a policy ensuring a certain percentage of positions are filled by Saudi nationals, impacting visa issuance for companies.
How is end-of-service compensation calculated for expats?
End-of-service compensation is typically half a month's salary for the first five years, full salary thereafter, plus unused vacation days.
Can expats work part-time or freelance in Saudi Arabia?
No, expats cannot legally earn extra income outside their primary employment contract and doing so can lead to fines and deportation.
What's a non-compete clause and is it enforceable in Saudi Arabia?
A non-compete clause prohibits working with competitors; it's enforceable if clearly defined by job type, location, and time constraints.
What are the key changes in Saudi employment laws for expats?
Recent changes include streamlined transfer services without employer discretion, digital contracts, and clear end-of-service entitlements.
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What EXPATS need to know - Life in Compounds - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- 00:00:00okay everyone so this is something
- 00:00:03different okay so usually my uh my
- 00:00:07content is just me chatting kind of
- 00:00:10rubbish and uh maybe informative rubbish
- 00:00:13at that and there's been a lot of you
- 00:00:15who have actually reached out and asked
- 00:00:16various different questions mainly about
- 00:00:18compounds and living but also about you
- 00:00:21know being here with your partner your
- 00:00:22girlfriend your boyfriend and some of
- 00:00:24the questions I can't answer is uh or
- 00:00:27are more around the the legalities and
- 00:00:30that is why I'm excited today to bring
- 00:00:33in someone who is I mean an expert about
- 00:00:38it right do you want to introduce
- 00:00:40yourself yeah thank you so much for
- 00:00:42having me and part of this and your
- 00:00:44videos are amazing by the way super
- 00:00:46informative
- 00:00:47so uh yeah my name is consultant here uh
- 00:00:51and I've been doing this for around 10
- 00:00:53years especially in the employment
- 00:00:55Affairs labor law establishing companies
- 00:00:59more do that because I'm getting my
- 00:01:01expertise in such thing and yeah I get a
- 00:01:05lot of questions regarding the
- 00:01:06employment that it is an interesting
- 00:01:08part I've been doing this for a long
- 00:01:10time now it's uh yeah because I mean for
- 00:01:12clarity
- 00:01:14um Uber has a show on srfm and I
- 00:01:17actually turned or got into my car the
- 00:01:20radio came on and it was him talking
- 00:01:21about you know things expats need to
- 00:01:24look out for when it comes to employment
- 00:01:27contracts and all that kind of stuff so
- 00:01:29what I did is I messaged him I was like
- 00:01:31Eva you're amazing let's get a uh let's
- 00:01:34get a showing on that show but a um a
- 00:01:37video in and I guess for me like this
- 00:01:39comes from a bit of a personal area as
- 00:01:42well because you know when I first came
- 00:01:45here there were lots of horror stories
- 00:01:46about people not being allowed to
- 00:01:49transfer their their sort of their
- 00:01:51sponsorship their karma who were being
- 00:01:52booted out the country and all this kind
- 00:01:54of stuff what was true and what wasn't I
- 00:01:57don't know but it kind of puts something
- 00:01:59in the back of my head that was okay I'm
- 00:02:02never going to be able to leave the job
- 00:02:03that I'm at and
- 00:02:05um you know if I want to stay in Saudi
- 00:02:07then I'm just gonna have to stay here
- 00:02:09and so it actually caused me quite a lot
- 00:02:11of anxiety at the time I remember I went
- 00:02:13to see a lawyer myself to understand
- 00:02:16what this sort of procedure is and and
- 00:02:19my contract and everything there so you
- 00:02:22know I stayed at the company for three
- 00:02:23years and then I kind of bit the bullet
- 00:02:25and just saw if I I could transfer and
- 00:02:28they were very good about that and I
- 00:02:31managed to transfer my sponsorship so
- 00:02:32now I'm I'm working somewhere else what
- 00:02:34I'm trying to say is there's lots of
- 00:02:37confusion lots of kind of gray areas and
- 00:02:39especially if you look online there's
- 00:02:41absolutely zero information yeah so I
- 00:02:44think you know what is great to have you
- 00:02:47on today is just to give that Authority
- 00:02:50that know-how and also if anyone wants
- 00:02:54to message Uber DM him whatever I'll put
- 00:02:56his Instagram handle in there assuming
- 00:02:58that's okay
- 00:03:00okay thank you for that no problem no
- 00:03:02problem so I guess yeah like over the
- 00:03:04last however like three years four years
- 00:03:07what would you say have been the biggest
- 00:03:09changes for in relation to employment
- 00:03:12and expats yeah let me tell you that
- 00:03:15it's uh we can see so many good changes
- 00:03:18in terms of that kind of Freedom that
- 00:03:20the employee is having well it started
- 00:03:22where the uh the new regulations were
- 00:03:26all about uh tapping into a service
- 00:03:29transfer rather than a sponsorship
- 00:03:31transfer okay so the the sponsorship is
- 00:03:35uh the system we all know it it used to
- 00:03:38allow some people to abuse the whole
- 00:03:40thing by having them by having them
- 00:03:42getting paid because of that and
- 00:03:44controlling the expats when it was
- 00:03:46changed that now the your contract with
- 00:03:49the company is your is your sponsorship
- 00:03:51so now it's all about transferring the
- 00:03:53services okay and now having that
- 00:03:56discretion or the soul let's say uh
- 00:04:00um acceptance of the current employer
- 00:04:03was a really really it made things go
- 00:04:06messy and it was conflicting with the
- 00:04:08freedom of the employee himself now if
- 00:04:12you're looking at your contract and
- 00:04:14you're really doing well in terms of
- 00:04:16being aligned with the with the contract
- 00:04:18itself it's a click of a mouse from the
- 00:04:20from the uh from the further employ the
- 00:04:23employer that you need to transfer to
- 00:04:25just they requested onto a platform and
- 00:04:28your current employer has to accept it
- 00:04:31and there are some points that they
- 00:04:33don't even have to accept it if you're
- 00:04:35having any kind of conflict with them
- 00:04:36yes like your e-commer's expired or
- 00:04:38something exactly they're not renewing
- 00:04:39it or they they were they are away from
- 00:04:42work but they're they're maybe the
- 00:04:44employers got forbid dead or just uh
- 00:04:46Missing uh some of them is concealment
- 00:04:49about you you can be part of the
- 00:04:51concealment inside the lawyer is doing
- 00:04:53concealment and you're not part of it
- 00:04:55you can totally these are only examples
- 00:04:57where you are transferred automatically
- 00:05:00to your uh new employer and the good
- 00:05:03thing is uh it was one condition was to
- 00:05:07spend a year with your current employer
- 00:05:09before being here like you've had your
- 00:05:11year contracts you had to finish that
- 00:05:13before you could even think about
- 00:05:14leaving but that's not the case not
- 00:05:16anymore not anymore you don't even have
- 00:05:17to spend a year however you have to
- 00:05:19check that all the contractual
- 00:05:21obligations with your contracts now we
- 00:05:24know that the contracts are digital so
- 00:05:26even if we're writing a contract this is
- 00:05:28not the official one the official one is
- 00:05:29what you receive as a link onto a
- 00:05:31platform
- 00:05:35yeah so you receive you receive actually
- 00:05:38an SMS and then there's a link where you
- 00:05:41have your username password it's linked
- 00:05:43with your app share and then you have to
- 00:05:46provide a code that you receive as an
- 00:05:48acceptance but please you have to read
- 00:05:50that contract but this so at this point
- 00:05:53you need your e-commer right to get into
- 00:05:55the app share platform what about those
- 00:05:58people who are pre signing off on their
- 00:06:01job on their contract on their offer so
- 00:06:04they don't have access to that platform
- 00:06:06and they've just been sent a PDF or
- 00:06:07whatever it might be would that change
- 00:06:09there well if it's an offer the offer is
- 00:06:12still something that is not really
- 00:06:13related to what the procedure that we
- 00:06:15said it's still something that is like
- 00:06:18uh I call it as an mou like a memorandum
- 00:06:21of understanding it's still uh enforcing
- 00:06:24but it's not official to the government
- 00:06:26here okay all right so the offer is just
- 00:06:29the kind of request from the employee
- 00:06:31lawyer for you and giving you an idea of
- 00:06:34what the salary is going to be and what
- 00:06:36are the terms and conditions but signing
- 00:06:38the offer does not mean that you're
- 00:06:40working there and does not mean that
- 00:06:42you're transfer Your sponsorship is
- 00:06:43transferred fine so it would be offer
- 00:06:46letter contract sign that
- 00:06:48um it's a kind of memorandum of
- 00:06:51understanding then you move to Saudi you
- 00:06:54get your e-comma and then you you kind
- 00:06:57of have the contract which is legally
- 00:06:59binding in the sort of government
- 00:07:01document in a way that is on the keyword
- 00:07:03platform that you would then sign and
- 00:07:06ideally these two contracts match they
- 00:07:11should they should assuming you've
- 00:07:13assigned this one they're not going to
- 00:07:14necessarily slip in something here so
- 00:07:17just because you've signed this I guess
- 00:07:18it's important to make sure you do the
- 00:07:21due diligence and absolutely absolutely
- 00:07:23so if it's a such a professional company
- 00:07:25they will do this and this is something
- 00:07:27we did in in the company I work for we
- 00:07:30did a different kind of contract
- 00:07:32Employment contract for abroad people so
- 00:07:35it was the the reason why we're doing
- 00:07:38this contract is to get people in all
- 00:07:41right it is uh similar to what you can
- 00:07:43check by when you can receive from Kiwa
- 00:07:46it just been meant for people abroad to
- 00:07:49get them in because you can't do a
- 00:07:52contract okay why people are not in
- 00:07:53Saudi Arabia yes and this is where it's
- 00:07:55very important for everyone to know that
- 00:07:58if they came in a visit Visa or VISA it
- 00:08:02cannot be changed into you know an ID
- 00:08:06yes right yes yes a visit Visa is a
- 00:08:08visit Visa if someone is telling you if
- 00:08:11someone even a business Visa well
- 00:08:13business Visa is is different tourism
- 00:08:17and visit Visa cannot be transferred
- 00:08:19into they cannot be transferred and
- 00:08:21you're not allowed to work you're not
- 00:08:23allowed to work and at one point no one
- 00:08:24because it's it is happening it is
- 00:08:27easier now to issue visit visa and
- 00:08:30tourism Visa right it's easier yeah
- 00:08:31because we don't want everyone to come
- 00:08:33to Saudi Arabia yeah so people are
- 00:08:34abusing saying that Hey listen I'm going
- 00:08:36to send you a visit visa and then we're
- 00:08:38getting you in Saudi Arabia once you
- 00:08:40you're here we are going to do
- 00:08:42we're going to change that into an ID
- 00:08:43this cannot be happened yes it can
- 00:08:46happen in no way it is mentioned by uh
- 00:08:50Saudi directorate a passport directorate
- 00:08:52in Arabic that it can't be people have
- 00:08:56to go back to their country and then get
- 00:08:58into another Visa which might be a
- 00:09:00business Visa it might be requesting
- 00:09:02them to come and work
- 00:09:03for another one so by telling anyone to
- 00:09:06come with a visit visa and then we will
- 00:09:08do this thing can happen so I guess the
- 00:09:11only reason that someone should be
- 00:09:12coming to Saudi with a tourist visa or a
- 00:09:14visit Visa kind of shared the link by
- 00:09:17the company that they may work for is
- 00:09:19just to explore exactly and see if see
- 00:09:22if it if it's right for you but there's
- 00:09:24no way no they should be the employer
- 00:09:28should be like making that person work
- 00:09:30or just saying no just do do a day here
- 00:09:32or do a day then no not at all it's
- 00:09:34something that is against law I mean at
- 00:09:37one point they are breaching the law and
- 00:09:39they are going to pay fines for this and
- 00:09:41as a visit Visa you can't work the only
- 00:09:44thing is that you can you know do this
- 00:09:46kind of uh the initial kind of agreement
- 00:09:49and then uh the experts need to return
- 00:09:51back yes to their country and then to
- 00:09:54you know travel formally to Saudi Arabia
- 00:09:57as as uh you know our employees our
- 00:10:00staff as uh domestic workers it does not
- 00:10:03really matter yeah but it should be
- 00:10:04going through the uh the official
- 00:10:08channels yes they are something that we
- 00:10:10can do which is a transferring
- 00:10:13someone who's on a visit Visa into being
- 00:10:15an employee to work in Saudi Arabia okay
- 00:10:18so do not get fooled by all these offers
- 00:10:20because it's happening oh I know I know
- 00:10:22this I I know quite a few people yeah
- 00:10:24and people are caught in between so
- 00:10:25they're there they don't they don't have
- 00:10:27an income no one is uh actually uh
- 00:10:30approving them to work no one is
- 00:10:33accepting them and they can't return
- 00:10:35back at one point because maybe they
- 00:10:37can't afford it so it's uh yeah and so I
- 00:10:39guess that's that's a good thing is is
- 00:10:41if you are coming over on a business
- 00:10:43Visa or a visit visa and you are working
- 00:10:48which you shouldn't be
- 00:10:49um you will be paid cash uh which then
- 00:10:53you can't really do anything with you
- 00:10:56can't put it into a bank account because
- 00:10:57you can't get a bank account yeah um you
- 00:11:00can yes take it to the money exchange
- 00:11:02but then when you're leaving the country
- 00:11:03you can only take a certain amount with
- 00:11:05you I think it's like 60 000 60 000
- 00:11:07videos so if you if you're if you're
- 00:11:09working here for months under a a
- 00:11:12tourist visa
- 00:11:14um then you kind of you're screwed and
- 00:11:17the employer is paying you so that's all
- 00:11:19fine although it's not fine
- 00:11:21um but but ultimately what's going to
- 00:11:23happen when you need to leave is you
- 00:11:24might not be able to get all your money
- 00:11:25out there might be issues and and so on
- 00:11:27well absolutely so what I urge everyone
- 00:11:30to do is to have a talk with their
- 00:11:32employer to to check what is the reason
- 00:11:34why because at some at one point I
- 00:11:36understand if the company is not aligned
- 00:11:39with netarcot uh system which is having
- 00:11:42the salarization in place and having
- 00:11:44that with a number of Saudis in the
- 00:11:46company they can't issue visas they have
- 00:11:49to be compliant with the with the
- 00:11:51salverization so they can issue visas
- 00:11:53right so that's why at one point they
- 00:11:55tell so they need to know the reason why
- 00:11:57is there a good reason why they're still
- 00:12:00on a visit Visa or tourism Visa yeah all
- 00:12:02right and and they need to have a time
- 00:12:06frame what would be a good reason
- 00:12:08because we spoke about visiting and just
- 00:12:10seeing what it's like that's is that the
- 00:12:13only reason well uh tourism Visa tourism
- 00:12:16visiting the kind of religious uh
- 00:12:19visiting for for uh for this or maybe at
- 00:12:22one point uh the maybe you're having
- 00:12:25some meetings and uh because it's part
- 00:12:27of your work outside of Saudi Arabia so
- 00:12:30you're having an important meeting in
- 00:12:31Saudi Arabia so you can issue a visa to
- 00:12:33go and attend that meeting conference
- 00:12:35yes any kind of you know uh any kind of
- 00:12:38something related to business but not
- 00:12:40really working from there yeah so it
- 00:12:41might be a reason why but at one point
- 00:12:43in order to you know to get the uh
- 00:12:47together like that you would you came
- 00:12:50for all the things that they have to be
- 00:12:52you know complied with the regulations
- 00:12:54and terms in Saudi Arabia and I think a
- 00:12:56important thing you touched on there was
- 00:12:58salarization do you want to explain a
- 00:13:00bit about that well civilization it has
- 00:13:01so many like colors okay uh the more
- 00:13:05that you're you're having what is
- 00:13:07requested for you to have Saudis so
- 00:13:09there are kind of positions that has to
- 00:13:11be Saudis uh it's a long list but some
- 00:13:14of them like the HR and that list is
- 00:13:16growing isn't it it is growing it is
- 00:13:18growing there's a realization that the
- 00:13:20salvadization in so many positions is
- 00:13:21happening and I guess it is for the best
- 00:13:24of the country I mean it is uh it has to
- 00:13:26be a priority to get the national people
- 00:13:29to work right and it is uh I would be
- 00:13:32glad if it was happening in my country
- 00:13:34it was something that's really good
- 00:13:35supporting the Saudis in the best way I
- 00:13:38mean uh and in a really controlled way
- 00:13:41and it's always being phases it's on
- 00:13:44phases like the legal it started by not
- 00:13:47having any kind just an organization but
- 00:13:49then it went into 50 percent so if um if
- 00:13:53there's a legal advisor uh it should be
- 00:13:55like one legal advisor one Saudi person
- 00:13:57because it's 50 then 20 to 70. so for
- 00:13:59having like uh standard okay seven of
- 00:14:01them should be Saudi and three should be
- 00:14:03yes if we're having us like one example
- 00:14:06would be the legal advisor or lawyer it
- 00:14:09should be like this so it's coming into
- 00:14:11phases and the more company is complied
- 00:14:15with the natal Court having Saudis in
- 00:14:18place because there's a grace period and
- 00:14:20you don't have to be like a line hundred
- 00:14:22percent but you have to work on it the
- 00:14:24more they have more features like having
- 00:14:26more visas bring people from yeah right
- 00:14:28because if you have a certain number of
- 00:14:29Saudis that can get you a certain number
- 00:14:31of expats yeah yeah absolutely
- 00:14:33absolutely and if you're not then your
- 00:14:36your system in the ministry of human
- 00:14:39resource and Social Development might be
- 00:14:42having like a red flag so you can't do
- 00:14:44so so many good procedures so like
- 00:14:47renewing and recruiting would be you
- 00:14:50know so that's why that's why is why you
- 00:14:52might be bringing uh someone in on a
- 00:14:54visit visa to work which is under very
- 00:14:57underhand shouldn't happen shouldn't
- 00:14:59happen so I think it's important if if
- 00:15:01that is the case then you understand why
- 00:15:02that is the case and really drill down
- 00:15:05into like the reasons why because there
- 00:15:08isn't really a good reason right or you
- 00:15:09could just hit ever up and ask him about
- 00:15:12your situation well well you did
- 00:15:13something when you started this uh when
- 00:15:16you mentioned that you actually
- 00:15:17consulted the lawyer you did Amazing by
- 00:15:19the way this is something that we tend
- 00:15:21to do the DYI thing uh do it yourself
- 00:15:23it's great I mean uh the law is made for
- 00:15:27everyone to read but it just been used
- 00:15:29by lawyers I totally understand but I
- 00:15:31mean approaching a lawyer is something
- 00:15:33that would really really help you and it
- 00:15:35will support you and to avoid you going
- 00:15:37and taking wrong decisions yes so you
- 00:15:40did great by Consulting someone and now
- 00:15:43we're tapping into having these
- 00:15:44specialized lawyers so in the past like
- 00:15:47lawyer would do literally everything
- 00:15:48here in Saudi Arabia now it has changed
- 00:15:51okay so and I encourage everyone if
- 00:15:54you're approaching a lawyer to to solve
- 00:15:56whatever or consultancy ask them have
- 00:15:59they done this before
- 00:16:00they would know about it I mean knowing
- 00:16:03about it is different than being an
- 00:16:05expert in it because especially now
- 00:16:06things have changed or are changing and
- 00:16:09if you're not on the sort of on the
- 00:16:11pulse of what is happening then you know
- 00:16:14you might not be privy to the new
- 00:16:16information and then you might not be
- 00:16:18able to offer your client or the expat
- 00:16:20well the trick yeah what the current
- 00:16:22state of things yeah even the labor law
- 00:16:24it's been changing yeah constantly every
- 00:16:27couple of months there's a change so we
- 00:16:29have to be on the top of our game if
- 00:16:30someone is super busy by establishing
- 00:16:33companies amazing but then you come to
- 00:16:35them with labor law they would think oh
- 00:16:36labor law I know about it but there's
- 00:16:38some changes that will be really
- 00:16:39critical in your case yes yes always
- 00:16:42always reach out to someone who has been
- 00:16:43who is actively doing it not knowing
- 00:16:46about it because lawyer is very easy for
- 00:16:48me to do my research and check for the
- 00:16:50for maybe the terms and conditions
- 00:16:52regulations anything but working on it
- 00:16:54will will save you some time will save
- 00:16:57you money yes so this is what I
- 00:16:59encourage everyone and where do you
- 00:17:02think would be the best place to find
- 00:17:04someone who specializes in that word of
- 00:17:08mouth Word of Mouth yeah in respect to
- 00:17:11to well first of all how I got the name
- 00:17:13of that lawyer and that was through an
- 00:17:16individual who
- 00:17:18um his e-commer expired with his with
- 00:17:21his sponsor and so he transferred to to
- 00:17:24another sponsor who basically then they
- 00:17:27created a business that was in the same
- 00:17:29industry as what he had before the first
- 00:17:32guys took him to court and tried to sue
- 00:17:34an appeal and everything and so with
- 00:17:37this lawyer he managed to
- 00:17:39um get out of that basically and and the
- 00:17:42court sided with him
- 00:17:44so on that note the changes that you
- 00:17:48have mentioned there are very much
- 00:17:51um sort of uh not necessarily on the
- 00:17:54side of expats but it's not so strictly
- 00:17:57on the side of of Saudis it's fair
- 00:18:00exactly it's in the middle it's fair as
- 00:18:03long as you know your rights you know
- 00:18:04your responsibilities you're reading
- 00:18:06your contract and you're aware at least
- 00:18:08of the labor law and you you're not
- 00:18:11blindly just taking decisions you know
- 00:18:13what are the requirements for the Visa
- 00:18:15and you're trying always to be aligned
- 00:18:17with law you will do great yes you'll
- 00:18:19believe me you'll do great
- 00:18:21because it's made for people who are
- 00:18:23really having the intention to work hard
- 00:18:26to work with an official entity and it's
- 00:18:28made for employers to be aligned to to
- 00:18:32have enough Saudis as stipulated and
- 00:18:34laws and at the same point have expats
- 00:18:38if if they were allowed yeah okay so
- 00:18:41next thing I want to touch on is the
- 00:18:43individual the expat has has got their
- 00:18:46offer letter or their contract or their
- 00:18:48review and their contract when in the
- 00:18:50Kingdom
- 00:18:51what are some of the things that they
- 00:18:53should be looking for okay perfect it's
- 00:18:56uh this is a great great question uh to
- 00:18:59start with we need to know that the
- 00:19:00offer letter is a letter it's not a
- 00:19:02contract it's just getting us prepared
- 00:19:04to the contract want me to cancel the
- 00:19:06contract we also know that it's now it's
- 00:19:08a unified kind of form that is giving to
- 00:19:11you via link on Clever platform so if
- 00:19:13there's any kind of contradiction
- 00:19:15between both the written one and the
- 00:19:17digital the digital will prevail okay so
- 00:19:19we need to know this the one on the
- 00:19:21keyword platform exactly and this is the
- 00:19:23the one that will be used in case we're
- 00:19:25having a dispute so even if you're
- 00:19:27signing the contract you have to read
- 00:19:28both and you need to find any kind of
- 00:19:30you know change in different different
- 00:19:32the differences between both
- 00:19:34now as we know that it is a unified kind
- 00:19:36of form we would say oh it's generated
- 00:19:38from a computer so it can be happening
- 00:19:40anything that's against me yes however
- 00:19:43we still need to check anything that
- 00:19:45might at one point uh get you in trouble
- 00:19:47like one of them is the probation period
- 00:19:50we all know that probation period is
- 00:19:52three months but it might be up to six
- 00:19:54months it might be up to 180 days okay
- 00:19:57so knowing that I know that within uh
- 00:20:00180 days I might be a one point
- 00:20:02dismissed without any compensation we
- 00:20:05need to know however it should be
- 00:20:06stipulated in written in the contract
- 00:20:08that the probation period might extend
- 00:20:12into 180 days which is six months and it
- 00:20:15can be it you can get another probation
- 00:20:17period by the way you can't they can't
- 00:20:19extend you can't extend one more than
- 00:20:21180 unless you left the work for around
- 00:20:24six months and then you returned back to
- 00:20:26the same position it can be another one
- 00:20:29is transferring you into a way different
- 00:20:32job okay fine like I mean do you or
- 00:20:34someone is like a receptionist but
- 00:20:37because of their uh they're having a
- 00:20:39really good certificate or maybe they
- 00:20:41graduated
- 00:20:42um from law school so they became the uh
- 00:20:45the legal advisor they can be put into
- 00:20:48another probation period yeah right okay
- 00:20:51so we need to really check the probation
- 00:20:53period And by the way sometimes some
- 00:20:55companies will put uh a kind of uh
- 00:20:58penalty Clause a penalty or if you were
- 00:21:01leaving about this penalty won't be
- 00:21:03enforced on the employer himself and
- 00:21:05this is usually common in teachers uh
- 00:21:07kind of contracts because if teachers
- 00:21:10are leaving the middle of the semester
- 00:21:11that might harm
- 00:21:13so they might say that if you're leaving
- 00:21:15yeah we might ask you to compensate
- 00:21:17others with the two salaries
- 00:21:20but if we're dismissing you we're not
- 00:21:22going to compensate you yes it might be
- 00:21:24there so we need to be aware of it uh
- 00:21:27the last thing I want to say about this
- 00:21:29is uh we uh if the company is paying any
- 00:21:33kind of money because of the medical
- 00:21:35check or transferring the the comma they
- 00:21:38might ask the employer to compensate
- 00:21:40them if the employer is leaving within
- 00:21:42the probation period but that has to be
- 00:21:45stipulated in the contract it should be
- 00:21:47as well it should be as well yeah and
- 00:21:49then so a question on the probation if
- 00:21:51your probation is three months and you
- 00:21:53get to the end of the three months and
- 00:21:54they say they want to extend it is that
- 00:21:56possible it is if it was mentioned in
- 00:21:58the contract we can we we have the yeah
- 00:22:01okay if it's only stipulated in the
- 00:22:03contract that is only three months they
- 00:22:05can't okay yeah they can't no way they
- 00:22:07can all right so this is I've heard that
- 00:22:10happen didn't read the contract did they
- 00:22:13well yeah reading the contract we look
- 00:22:14at it as something that is for
- 00:22:16grantedino we we barely read I mean it
- 00:22:19might be a little bit of of uh you know
- 00:22:22it's not that much appealing kind of
- 00:22:24feeling but we we policy the insurance
- 00:22:26policy any kind of loan Employment
- 00:22:29contract uh any kind of you know uh
- 00:22:33joint venture company you have to read
- 00:22:36the AOA article of Association because
- 00:22:39one of the other things you mentioned
- 00:22:40was the
- 00:22:41um the non-compete so again like that
- 00:22:45was one of the big things that struck me
- 00:22:47when I was looking to move was
- 00:22:49am I going to be able to like is it
- 00:22:52going to be allowed so so and I think at
- 00:22:55the time initially we had a two-year
- 00:22:58non-compete and then with a batch of new
- 00:23:00contracts it came down to six months
- 00:23:02because everyone kicked off being like
- 00:23:03what yeah absolutely so so can we talk a
- 00:23:07bit so uh the uncompete is mentioned by
- 00:23:09article 83 in labor law uh it is
- 00:23:12mentioned clearly that the employer can
- 00:23:15ask you not to compete with him or not
- 00:23:17not to disclose any kind of confidential
- 00:23:20information as long as it's mentioned
- 00:23:23clearly what type of job and their
- 00:23:25geographical place and the time frame
- 00:23:27these three elements should be mentioned
- 00:23:30in such thing in order to be enforceable
- 00:23:32usually it is mentioned in the
- 00:23:34employment contract if not it means that
- 00:23:37there's no you know you're not obliged
- 00:23:39to do so so what would happen if it's
- 00:23:41not mentioned in the in the employment
- 00:23:42contract once you're resigning not
- 00:23:44renewing terminating whatever uh it was
- 00:23:47the reason why you're not working there
- 00:23:48anymore then employer tend to give you
- 00:23:51that letter
- 00:23:51of the non-compete and the
- 00:23:53confidentiality if you signed on it it
- 00:23:55is enforceable so it's okay to be
- 00:23:57outside of the contract it doesn't mean
- 00:23:59that it has to be in the contract most
- 00:24:01probably it is and in my company I
- 00:24:03really encourage them to have it in the
- 00:24:05contract yeah in order to keep
- 00:24:06everything in you know in control
- 00:24:09however it is okay to uh get it in uh in
- 00:24:13a separate letter all right and at one
- 00:24:15point if you're asking your uh upcoming
- 00:24:19company I don't know if you're going to
- 00:24:21another company they will have a Kiwa
- 00:24:24request for your current company to uh
- 00:24:27you know to say to say yes and to
- 00:24:29transfer you if you signed already that
- 00:24:32kind of letter or or the contract the
- 00:24:34employees is allowed not to accept your
- 00:24:37transferring you to another competitor
- 00:24:40so it's basically to give you context is
- 00:24:42there's this platform called keyword
- 00:24:44that is where all the the contracts and
- 00:24:46and sponsorships are held really and if
- 00:24:49you want to transfer Your sponsorship or
- 00:24:51transfer your service to another sponsor
- 00:24:54um the the new people have to request a
- 00:24:58transfer from your previous or your
- 00:25:01current employer the current employer
- 00:25:03can basically just say yes or no so it's
- 00:25:07literally that simple and that easy but
- 00:25:09obviously things like this can make it a
- 00:25:12bit more a little bit more complicated
- 00:25:14yeah if you're uh you accepted not to
- 00:25:16work with a competitor and I get it some
- 00:25:18people would say like uh
- 00:25:21there are the the financial people they
- 00:25:25can just not work at a company where
- 00:25:28with my expertise because this is what
- 00:25:30I've been doing yeah like a financial
- 00:25:31person who's been working with
- 00:25:33construction this is what he does he
- 00:25:35can't do anything else in another way
- 00:25:37yeah or a teacher right or a trainer I
- 00:25:40mean this is his career yeah they can't
- 00:25:42just change it but I mean at one point
- 00:25:45that the employer is looking at it is
- 00:25:47that these people have the know-how and
- 00:25:50maybe we're not terminating on a good
- 00:25:53terms so at one point maybe they they
- 00:25:55might harm me and if they are escalating
- 00:25:59it to the court when it comes to
- 00:26:00confidentiality they have to provide
- 00:26:02evidence that the employer did harm them
- 00:26:07by disclosing some of the confidential
- 00:26:10information which which led to damaging
- 00:26:14the previous employer so it's not that
- 00:26:15much opened they have to provide some
- 00:26:18evidence
- 00:26:19but at one point yeah they don't compete
- 00:26:21oh and by the way some people use a
- 00:26:23bridge you know what a bridge is the
- 00:26:25bridge is uh getting a random employer
- 00:26:28to a transfer on him for a bit of time
- 00:26:32and then you transfer to the competitor
- 00:26:35uh so is that allowed Well it Well it's
- 00:26:39not against the law but going to the to
- 00:26:41our competitors against the law yes but
- 00:26:44it's not going to be you're not going to
- 00:26:45be penalized until the previous employer
- 00:26:48sued you and by the way they can sue you
- 00:26:51only within one year of the day they
- 00:26:53know about a bridge so if you breach for
- 00:26:56a year and they did and they know about
- 00:26:58it maybe how how they can know maybe
- 00:27:00they texted you say how could you go to
- 00:27:02x company so it means that they know and
- 00:27:04you have the evidence
- 00:27:05one year passed they did not Sue you
- 00:27:08they lose their chance to do so okay
- 00:27:11right so okay it is against the law but
- 00:27:15you won't be penalized unless you're
- 00:27:17they sued you got you gotcha so now if
- 00:27:20we're thinking our expat is in the
- 00:27:22country they're working everything's
- 00:27:25good what do they need to be careful of
- 00:27:29in terms of for example like we were
- 00:27:32saying
- 00:27:33earning money for another Channel well
- 00:27:36uh yeah so something about uh expats is
- 00:27:40they have to earn money only from their
- 00:27:42employers okay so the they because now
- 00:27:45it's all are being you know monitored
- 00:27:47within the uh according to the central
- 00:27:49bank so the money coming to your account
- 00:27:52should be only and strictly only from
- 00:27:54your employer so the company you're
- 00:27:56working with and the Kiwa platform
- 00:27:58contract saying uh 20 000 reals this is
- 00:28:02the money that you have to receive as a
- 00:28:03salary on your bank account on monthly
- 00:28:06basis unless you're you know lending me
- 00:28:08people money and they're getting back to
- 00:28:10you or maybe you you got a little bit
- 00:28:12amount of cash to people uh and then
- 00:28:14they're getting it it's okay it's not
- 00:28:16significant amount and it's not on
- 00:28:19monthly basis yes okay and people are
- 00:28:21really talented they tend to open their
- 00:28:25own you know bakery shop online okay or
- 00:28:27do that kind of online coaching online
- 00:28:30training in principle it's a good idea
- 00:28:32however if they're earning money for
- 00:28:34their own account this is against the
- 00:28:36law yeah the fine might reach up to 50
- 00:28:38000 reals and deportation might happen
- 00:28:40so ten thousand pounds yeah so so that
- 00:28:43is if you are if you've got your job
- 00:28:45you've got your contract you're earning
- 00:28:47money through there say 10 000 reals and
- 00:28:50then each month and then you're doing
- 00:28:52some other side hustle and then you're
- 00:28:54getting money either sent into that bank
- 00:28:57account
- 00:28:58um whether you're giving cash or whether
- 00:29:01it's a transfer from that from another
- 00:29:02individual or another company then
- 00:29:05sooner or later if it's substantial
- 00:29:08amounts and that obviously varies you
- 00:29:11you'll be flagged by the bank you'll be
- 00:29:13flagged because you're getting that
- 00:29:15money and maybe a question might be
- 00:29:17raised as what if I'm getting the money
- 00:29:19cash
- 00:29:20if you're getting the money cash it
- 00:29:22means that it's unlikely for you to get
- 00:29:24flagged but that doesn't mean that
- 00:29:26you're doing illegal stuff yes yes I
- 00:29:28don't mean that it's legal to work but
- 00:29:30not by transfer the fact that you're
- 00:29:32working for your own uh account your own
- 00:29:35personality and personal gain is not
- 00:29:37something that uh you can do at one
- 00:29:40point maybe and just maybe you can
- 00:29:42change the the way you're working and do
- 00:29:44the passion that you have and combine it
- 00:29:47with the work and maybe having a partner
- 00:29:50as a Saudi partner and maybe establish a
- 00:29:52foreign Investment Company yeah because
- 00:29:53this allowed your you as an expat you
- 00:29:56can be a part of a company near Saudi
- 00:29:59Arabia if it was a hundred percent Saudi
- 00:30:02company that's called concealment yes if
- 00:30:04it was uh foreign investment so that's
- 00:30:07something that is legal so who knows we
- 00:30:09might be doing another video at some
- 00:30:10point where you know we're talking about
- 00:30:12the freelance Visa or something maybe
- 00:30:14maybe yeah maybe you never knows you
- 00:30:16never know you never know um so that's
- 00:30:18great anything else that someone
- 00:30:20shouldn't do or be aware of when they
- 00:30:22are well living their life well yeah uh
- 00:30:25it's been mentioned several times by the
- 00:30:29Saudi directorate of passport that the
- 00:30:31employer
- 00:30:32should get the employee to work in the
- 00:30:36same position or in the nature of for it
- 00:30:40same as stipulated in the contract or a
- 00:30:43comma if they're not doing so and
- 00:30:45they're allowing the employee to work
- 00:30:47for someone else the employer will be
- 00:30:50fined for up to 100 000 wheels and maybe
- 00:30:54to be banned from recruitment up to five
- 00:30:56years okay and if it's someone who is
- 00:30:58not Saudi and is maybe the general
- 00:31:00manager he might be get deported okay
- 00:31:03all right so as an example maybe someone
- 00:31:06is having an employee who's doing maybe
- 00:31:09he's doing the kind of financial he's a
- 00:31:11financial person doing the finance okay
- 00:31:13he's the accountant of the company at
- 00:31:16the same time he's uh running some
- 00:31:18errands for the company he's doing his
- 00:31:20Buy buying some stuff and doing some
- 00:31:22procurement okay he's not allowed to do
- 00:31:25so or maybe he's having a chef at one
- 00:31:27point at the same time is that he's
- 00:31:29letting them do some uh driving uh
- 00:31:32chores right so
- 00:31:35he was a chef he's a chef he's
- 00:31:36accountant he should be you know strict
- 00:31:38to be an accountant or else the employer
- 00:31:41will bear some uh serious consequences
- 00:31:43because I've uh sort of know of people
- 00:31:46who have come in under
- 00:31:49one job but doing something totally
- 00:31:51different this is not allowed employer
- 00:31:54will bear the consequences actually and
- 00:31:57uh it can be reported and at one point I
- 00:32:01encourage everyone to gain knowledge
- 00:32:03okay to read their contracts to read the
- 00:32:06uh the um of course the terms and
- 00:32:10conditions that are anywhere according
- 00:32:12their contract to read the labor law and
- 00:32:15to go to the human resource and Social
- 00:32:16Development website they have an amazing
- 00:32:19infographic and not only there but on
- 00:32:21their Twitter okay Angela to Twitter as
- 00:32:23well they stipulate a lot of things they
- 00:32:25mentioned a lot of good things I'll put
- 00:32:27the uh the link to that in the video
- 00:32:28yeah yeah that would be great
- 00:32:30and uh the human resource and Social
- 00:32:32Development infographics super easy and
- 00:32:35they're they're mostly in English and
- 00:32:37Arabic at the same time okay uh and uh
- 00:32:40they can if they think they can't uh
- 00:32:42file the case do you know that anyone
- 00:32:44can file a case using the website of
- 00:32:47this uh human resource on social
- 00:32:48development without even even having a
- 00:32:50lawyer really anyone anyone can do this
- 00:32:53anyone and I encourage everyone to go
- 00:32:57and check if you're having a valid app
- 00:32:59share you can totally create an account
- 00:33:01on social uh human resource Social
- 00:33:03Development and file your case and you
- 00:33:06just have to be really careful when you
- 00:33:08mention or with the compensation you
- 00:33:10want because it should be clearly
- 00:33:12mentioned and at one point it should be
- 00:33:14according to your uh contract and you
- 00:33:17have to support your claim with the with
- 00:33:20the evidence of course but you'll get it
- 00:33:23yeah because I think that goes to a
- 00:33:24conversation that we had the other day
- 00:33:26just around how I sort of knew a guy
- 00:33:29here who actually initially reached out
- 00:33:30to me via these videos and he moved over
- 00:33:33and what something happened at work
- 00:33:36which
- 00:33:37um wasn't his fault
- 00:33:39um and there was no evidence that it was
- 00:33:41he was he was at fault and so what
- 00:33:44happened to him is he was brought into a
- 00:33:46run by the owner and basically said
- 00:33:49we're issuing your final exit
- 00:33:52um I.E you're leaving the country for
- 00:33:54good and we are not going to pay your
- 00:33:57end of service we're not going to pay
- 00:33:58your your leftover holiday days and we
- 00:34:01are not going to sort of pay you out
- 00:34:02your contract if you do not accept this
- 00:34:04then we will call the police you'll get
- 00:34:07arrested and you'll go to prison and
- 00:34:08you'll pay fines so this was the lawyer
- 00:34:11that I passed him on to and that is
- 00:34:13going great for him
- 00:34:16um because obviously he was sort of
- 00:34:19um victimized in a way
- 00:34:21um or thrown under the bus however you
- 00:34:22want to put it but with that story I
- 00:34:24want to sort of you know ask you what
- 00:34:27are the things that expats are entitled
- 00:34:30to at the end of their contract what
- 00:34:33should they be looking for because you
- 00:34:35know personally speaking when I finish
- 00:34:37my contract you know it was quite a nice
- 00:34:40quite a nice bump in terms of like the
- 00:34:43thank you
- 00:34:44um sort of end of service for example so
- 00:34:46what other things that people should
- 00:34:48look for when it comes to ending their
- 00:34:50contract okay so when it comes to end of
- 00:34:52contracts allow me just to a step a
- 00:34:54little bit back and check the
- 00:34:55termination of that contract okay so
- 00:34:57before we we check what are the benefits
- 00:34:59that we're going to to uh to have we
- 00:35:02need to check how are we going out of
- 00:35:03that contract because there is the
- 00:35:05non-renewal there's the resignation
- 00:35:07there's the termination and according to
- 00:35:10each one of them maybe that the benefits
- 00:35:12will be different of course all right so
- 00:35:14I encourage everyone now to resign to
- 00:35:17start with unless they work for more
- 00:35:19than 10 years this is where it does not
- 00:35:21really matter I encourage everyone to
- 00:35:23renew all right so not not renewal means
- 00:35:26that I'm waiting until the contract
- 00:35:29expires because as expats our contracts
- 00:35:32are only you know limited they're not
- 00:35:34indefinite yeah so it starts in a
- 00:35:36certain date and it finishes in
- 00:35:38uncertainty okay so let's say 31st of
- 00:35:41December okay 2022. you need to wait
- 00:35:44until that date and consider the
- 00:35:47um notice period yes you need to comply
- 00:35:49with it usually it's 60 sometimes it's
- 00:35:5230. sometimes not mentioned so you don't
- 00:35:54have anything all right so you have to
- 00:35:56uh to comply with this and not to renew
- 00:35:59the contract
- 00:36:00to send them a letter that is sent to
- 00:36:03the number or the number on WhatsApp
- 00:36:05because it is a an Evidence or the email
- 00:36:07mentioned in the contract itself saying
- 00:36:10that hey uh thank you I don't want to
- 00:36:12renew my contract this is how you end a
- 00:36:14contract in that perfect way okay so
- 00:36:16wait till the end of your contract is up
- 00:36:18obviously give whatever notice period
- 00:36:20notice period and then sit it out
- 00:36:22basically exactly this is how you can
- 00:36:24get all your you know uh the
- 00:36:27compensations usually the end of service
- 00:36:29is a half uh of uh salary like 50 of
- 00:36:34your salary for the first five years and
- 00:36:37full salary starting from the sixth year
- 00:36:39okay according to the latest salary that
- 00:36:41you took as a package yeah so the basic
- 00:36:44and all the you know benefits yeah so
- 00:36:46for me I worked at the company for three
- 00:36:48years and so I got two weeks two weeks
- 00:36:51two weeks so six weeks of salary so a
- 00:36:54month and a half month and a half yeah
- 00:36:55so this is what you take also uh any
- 00:36:58kind of vacation that you did not take
- 00:37:00you will get literally every single day
- 00:37:02yes people think that if I'm not using
- 00:37:05the the vacation it means that it's lost
- 00:37:08no it's not yes yes and you need to
- 00:37:10track this you need you need to because
- 00:37:13stuff falls through the cracks HR people
- 00:37:16come and go and so you know if the
- 00:37:18company isn't set up in a way that it's
- 00:37:20got a solid platform to you know manage
- 00:37:22the human resources side then stuff can
- 00:37:24fall through as it did
- 00:37:26um and I've experienced another thing I
- 00:37:28think is if you are being forced or not
- 00:37:30forced if you are working on the
- 00:37:32religious holidays then you are entitled
- 00:37:35those days that is that's an overtime
- 00:37:37usually there is a mechanism for them if
- 00:37:39you're working uh through for example
- 00:37:42or the national day it means that they
- 00:37:46might add this they should add this to
- 00:37:49your uh your off days your vacation or
- 00:37:52they compensate you with an overtime
- 00:37:54which is one hour is an uh one hour and
- 00:37:57a half 150 for one hour if you're
- 00:38:00working in there and you're okay with it
- 00:38:01yes right so you need to track these
- 00:38:04days as you said and each every 30 days
- 00:38:07is a salary for that when it comes to
- 00:38:10flight ticket it should be clearly
- 00:38:12mentioned in the contract some of the
- 00:38:14companies would say that if you're not
- 00:38:15traveling and you're not taking the the
- 00:38:18ticket you're not going to be
- 00:38:19compensated and that would be
- 00:38:21enforceable that will be the case okay
- 00:38:23unless it wasn't mentioned uh then you
- 00:38:27can request the untaken uh tickets
- 00:38:30flight tickets because you can take a
- 00:38:32flight ticket for you or it might be you
- 00:38:34and your family yeah
- 00:38:36so over time tickets
- 00:38:39um any kind of vacation end of service
- 00:38:41if there are any kind of bonuses that
- 00:38:43you did not take you are entitled to
- 00:38:45take it should be again stipulated in
- 00:38:47the contract yes all right uh if you
- 00:38:50apparently paid for your a coma to be uh
- 00:38:53renewed this is something you that you
- 00:38:55can request because renewing your Akama
- 00:38:58is on is is something that the company
- 00:39:00should pay but for your dependents your
- 00:39:03family with a wife or daughter or maid
- 00:39:06they are you are paying for them for
- 00:39:09their monthly payment this is something
- 00:39:10that you need to yes yes all right so
- 00:39:12this is uh as well uh medical insurance
- 00:39:15if you are paying for your own medical
- 00:39:17insurance this is something that you can
- 00:39:18totally request okay okay the company
- 00:39:21should uh should pay they should cover
- 00:39:24you and these are things that you can
- 00:39:26file a case against your company your uh
- 00:39:30sponsor if they're not paying you so
- 00:39:32this is something that you can totally
- 00:39:33request this is what I can recall for
- 00:39:37the moment I think I cover them all and
- 00:39:39I think it's it's a case of you know
- 00:39:41always have
- 00:39:43papers or documents or emails or
- 00:39:45whatsapps because you know if you've got
- 00:39:49a paper trail then it's much easier to
- 00:39:50prove your case should there be anything
- 00:39:52easier and one more thing if you're
- 00:39:54doing an overtime okay so over time
- 00:39:57apparently will be the the punch in
- 00:39:59there is the punch out is the thing that
- 00:40:00you're and usually the IT people would
- 00:40:03have track of that and some Modern
- 00:40:05companies are having a kind of you know
- 00:40:08a system for punching in and out so
- 00:40:10you're just uh register in your phone
- 00:40:12yes and you can get a kind of an
- 00:40:15approval for this if you're having an
- 00:40:16overtime by having this kind of report
- 00:40:19you can request any overtime yeah more
- 00:40:22than uh for uh 48 hours per week this is
- 00:40:26the maximum hours that we can work
- 00:40:28according to labor law more than that
- 00:40:30will be over time okay nice good I wish
- 00:40:34I had this information when I first came
- 00:40:35right but I mean even then like it's
- 00:40:38been three years obviously Corona as
- 00:40:39well but things have changed pretty
- 00:40:41significantly absolutely absolutely I
- 00:40:42remember sort of coming over and people
- 00:40:44saying like there's no way your your
- 00:40:47company will transfer you will transfer
- 00:40:49your karma like they send you home so if
- 00:40:51you wanted to transfer you would have to
- 00:40:53go home reapply for another e-commer and
- 00:40:56then come back so whereas now it's
- 00:40:58literally just a clip as you said a
- 00:41:00click of a button that's that's how you
- 00:41:02are transferred as long as uh your
- 00:41:06contracts your contract uh allow you and
- 00:41:08there's the non-compete so it is
- 00:41:10ultimately this way but there are some
- 00:41:13kind of exceptions yes that's why we
- 00:41:15really really need to read our contract
- 00:41:16employment before we accept yeah it's
- 00:41:19not a uh it's not an Apple update
- 00:41:21exactly it's not like terms and
- 00:41:24conditions to just download an
- 00:41:25application and that's the thing like
- 00:41:27you will get to the point where you're
- 00:41:28finishing your contract and you're like
- 00:41:30okay I really need to read this
- 00:41:32um why why did I sign this yeah so you
- 00:41:36need you need to have that visibility
- 00:41:37and this is something I like to do in uh
- 00:41:39during my program or rise I help people
- 00:41:42to avoid hiring lawyers yes right so I'm
- 00:41:44saving them money by uh are you getting
- 00:41:47a kickback well no no not yet from my
- 00:41:50colleagues stopped calling me but I mean
- 00:41:51I'm doing it for the further good yeah
- 00:41:54yeah right so yeah everyone should read
- 00:41:57and I keep on telling everyone laws are
- 00:41:59made for everyone to read it's just that
- 00:42:02lawyers are using them yeah so uh and
- 00:42:05I'm not asking I want to read everything
- 00:42:06I'm just asking them to try to read the
- 00:42:10relevant laws to what they're doing yeah
- 00:42:13so if you're initiating a company okay
- 00:42:15if you're part of a company you have to
- 00:42:17be the relevant laws uh pertaining it
- 00:42:20right yeah so you just you can't go
- 00:42:21blindly you have this is your know-how
- 00:42:24well yes it's you it's your you know
- 00:42:26your tool or your weapon in a way you'll
- 00:42:28come into a country where you don't
- 00:42:29necessarily know how things work so
- 00:42:31you're you feel like you're reliant on
- 00:42:34your your company but ultimately your
- 00:42:37company could be pulling the wool out of
- 00:42:38your eyes or kind of deceiving you or
- 00:42:40whatever it might be you know most of
- 00:42:42the time not the case but for you having
- 00:42:45understanding of this you you have a
- 00:42:48position of of power to to sort of argue
- 00:42:51from you know you can say this isn't as
- 00:42:54the labor law or ask a question or ask
- 00:42:56for rationale or contact ever whatever
- 00:42:58like you you it's ultimately knowledge
- 00:43:01is power right and you you kind of can
- 00:43:03fight your own Corner if need be
- 00:43:05absolutely absolutely I can't agree more
- 00:43:07so and I hope that people don't have to
- 00:43:10contact lawyers because at one point it
- 00:43:13means that everything is going well oh
- 00:43:15for sure but if so I mean yeah it's just
- 00:43:18a challenge we have to be a part of it
- 00:43:20we have to be courageous enough to file
- 00:43:22the case yeah you can you you can you
- 00:43:25can do it if you think that there's
- 00:43:26something that even if it was even if it
- 00:43:29was a letter of you know experience I
- 00:43:31mean it's your rights you can't file a
- 00:43:33case for it yes yes and then you'll get
- 00:43:35it believe it or not you'll get it
- 00:43:36because the consequences are really uh
- 00:43:39significant for the companies if not
- 00:43:40they're not providing a certificate a
- 00:43:42letter of service or or uh
- 00:43:45you know uh it is considered a letter
- 00:43:47but it is a requirement and it's your
- 00:43:50right so always fight for your right
- 00:43:52absolutely and the famous words of who
- 00:43:54who sung that fight for you all right
- 00:43:56um to party but anyway
- 00:43:58um so one last thing is like why do you
- 00:44:01think all this is happening like all
- 00:44:03this big change in the sort of the legal
- 00:44:05side is it to attract more Talent is it
- 00:44:09to sort of get up to a a global standard
- 00:44:12like what would you say so many reasons
- 00:44:14so uh being aligned with the global
- 00:44:16standard is one thing and now we are
- 00:44:19reaching a place where we're having a
- 00:44:22solid code of that law for almost
- 00:44:26everything rather than just relying on
- 00:44:28this whole discretion of the uh of the
- 00:44:30judge right so we're having this kind of
- 00:44:33modern uh transition into getting
- 00:44:37everything literally written okay and
- 00:44:40enforceable uh also we're attracting uh
- 00:44:44amazing talents from all over the world
- 00:44:45we need people to say that hey I really
- 00:44:48need to go and work in Saudi Arabia yes
- 00:44:49everything is clear so yeah
- 00:44:52are attracting talents and not allowing
- 00:44:55anyone to abuse the system this is very
- 00:44:57important not to allow anyone to use
- 00:45:00loopholes and to control what is
- 00:45:02happening there for their own benefit uh
- 00:45:05so when it's happening this way uh it's
- 00:45:09been judged objectively yes so for
- 00:45:12everyone to you know be aligned with law
- 00:45:15and to be ruled in the same way same
- 00:45:17same rules applied and then one thing I
- 00:45:19always do is sort of ask
- 00:45:22my guest what um what he what would you
- 00:45:26say to someone who's thinking of moving
- 00:45:27to Saudi so someone who's been watching
- 00:45:29this video someone who's watched maybe
- 00:45:30some other videos or who's researching
- 00:45:32Saudi and they've got a sort of a job
- 00:45:34offer what would you what would your
- 00:45:36advice be to them well uh their first
- 00:45:38advice of course is to research the
- 00:45:39company itself try to check their
- 00:45:41history try to check their website to
- 00:45:43try to contact people try to talk to
- 00:45:46people rather than just emails okay to
- 00:45:48check if there's a kind of organic human
- 00:45:50element
- 00:45:51uh even if you had an interview
- 00:45:54keep on following up call and check if
- 00:45:57this is uh this is 100 valid and once
- 00:46:01you get the visa I highly recommend you
- 00:46:04also check with a lawyer or check uh
- 00:46:07with the governmental kind of uh website
- 00:46:10because they accept calls from outside
- 00:46:12of Saudi Arabia okay yeah this is
- 00:46:14something that you can do and where's
- 00:46:17that sorry where would you where would
- 00:46:18someone find that well uh we can put the
- 00:46:21number is the Foreign Affairs okay okay
- 00:46:23the Foreign Affairs number they can
- 00:46:24accept from outside and some some other
- 00:46:27websites have that have the live chat
- 00:46:29okay the human resource Social
- 00:46:31Development also can have the live chat
- 00:46:33they can literally chat to them and
- 00:46:35check if this is valid they can if they
- 00:46:37don't have any knowledge about that type
- 00:46:39of Visa okay and they think they can
- 00:46:41last thing they can go to Consulate in
- 00:46:44their country the Saudi consulate to
- 00:46:46check to show them the documents because
- 00:46:48they would uh check their real
- 00:46:51accreditation and how formal the
- 00:46:53documents are okay okay and
- 00:46:57um I mean
- 00:46:59also they have to check the culture
- 00:47:01they have to check if they're I mean at
- 00:47:03one point they're uh the nature of the
- 00:47:06living it's it's it's evolved it's
- 00:47:07changed uh significantly since a while
- 00:47:10but still some of the you know uh bits
- 00:47:15of the culture might not be relevant to
- 00:47:17everyone so they need to have this kind
- 00:47:19of comprehensive study right everything
- 00:47:22that kind of holistic approach to what's
- 00:47:24going to be to be here but I believe now
- 00:47:28it's uh it's one of the best places to
- 00:47:31work and honestly ending on a high Yeah
- 00:47:34Yeah well yeah yeah I can't uh deny this
- 00:47:38uh they will be the the more the
- 00:47:42sophisticated company is the better the
- 00:47:45work environment for sure the better the
- 00:47:47onboarding the better all that kind of
- 00:47:49stuff is and I think you know that's one
- 00:47:51thing here is is we've taught quite uh
- 00:47:54Technical and you know in relation to
- 00:47:57law and people's rights and what's wrong
- 00:47:58and what is right but ultimately it is a
- 00:48:02very exciting opportunity that you have
- 00:48:04and as as you you've heard things are
- 00:48:06moving definitely towards you know or
- 00:48:09progressing forwards right so whether
- 00:48:11that is job motility whether that is you
- 00:48:13know transferring or whether that is you
- 00:48:15know just simply being able to contact
- 00:48:18or speak to someone who might be able to
- 00:48:20help
- 00:48:21um all of these options are there but
- 00:48:23ultimately it is exciting uh there's a
- 00:48:25lot to enjoy here and hopefully you
- 00:48:28won't have to use half of this
- 00:48:29information because everything is
- 00:48:31absolutely fine but being aware and and
- 00:48:35knowing what you what you don't know is
- 00:48:37the most important thing I think
- 00:48:39absolutely knowledge is power and we you
- 00:48:42just don't have to trust people blindly
- 00:48:44okay and if it's if it sounds too good
- 00:48:47to be true you're good to be true yeah I
- 00:48:50do not sometimes you get the literally
- 00:48:52the work contract signed and stamped
- 00:48:54just ask yourself is it too good to be
- 00:48:56true nice well Eva thank you so much
- 00:48:59thank you for having me so I was really
- 00:49:00excited for this opportunity which means
- 00:49:02it's our studio yeah right this is where
- 00:49:04we host from yeah
- 00:49:16but no thank you so much for your time
- 00:49:18and again if anyone wants to reach out
- 00:49:20please please do Instagram directly or
- 00:49:24maybe you want a bit of uh Les Mills
- 00:49:26Inspire oh yeah so maybe if you if you
- 00:49:28add my my supportive account they would
- 00:49:30say oh this person oh yes I did I
- 00:49:32thought that was your only one yeah so I
- 00:49:34have to though the one I'm active in is
- 00:49:36the supportive one okay fine but we can
- 00:49:38add your professional one yeah that
- 00:49:39would be yeah that would be good the
- 00:49:40polo shirt yeah that would be good yeah
- 00:49:42so many interviewers here in the studio
- 00:49:44exactly absolutely exactly awesome great
- 00:49:46nice well thank you thank you so much
- 00:49:48appreciate it so much and good luck and
- 00:49:50you're doing amazing in this keep keep
- 00:49:52it up you're giving people so much good
- 00:49:55stuff maybe oh yeah and uh I keep on
- 00:49:58growing keep on growing yeah we'll help
- 00:50:00with you yeah absolutely I'm here to
- 00:50:02help right thank you
- Saudi Arabia
- expat employment
- labor law
- Saudization
- legal procedures
- employment contract
- expat rights
- work visa
- Iqama
- non-compete clause