What EXPATS need to know when moving to Saudi Arabia for WORK

00:50:04
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1nVqjWXFlY

Summary

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

  • 👔 Understand your employment contract thoroughly, especially probation periods and clauses.
  • 🚫 Visit and tourist visas cannot be converted to work visas.
  • 🔁 Job transfer is possible through a digital platform if contract conditions are met.
  • 🚨 Working on a visit visa is illegal and has severe consequences.
  • 🇸🇦 Saudization affects employment opportunities for expats.
  • 🔗 Non-compete clauses must be clear to be enforceable.
  • 💼 Know your rights concerning end-of-service compensation.
  • 📈 Recent laws aim to align with global standards, attracting talent.
  • 🔍 Consult legal help if unsure about contracts or legal procedures.
  • 📜 Keep track of vacation days and other benefits entitlement.

Timeline

  • 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.

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Mind Map

Video Q&A

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