Private sector expat workers in Saudi Arabia were surprised to receive SMS messages indicating their profession had changed. As a result, workers and employers contacted labor offices to inquire about the status of receiving texts regarding new professions.

It was in collaboration with the Qiwa platform, the General Authority for Statistics and the Jawazat that the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development updated the regulations related to some professions of expatriate workers in the private sector.

Qiwa, earlier this month, obligated companies to correct the professions of some workers by posting a statement on its platform to employers and sponsors, stating that there are a number of workers whose professions must be corrected as per the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations manual. There are 8 professions covered by the correction, including doctor, expert, specialist, engineer, specialized expert, control, technician, worker, and ordinary worker.

Qiwa recently canceled the requirement to obtain expat workers' consent to change these 8 professions in their iqama. According to the Qiwa platform, these professions must be placed in specialized professions. Qiwa's platform for workers of companies is only affected by this amendment, not the platform for individuals.

In general, a worker's permission is required to change the profession on the iqama and the fee is 2000 riyals, however the above 8 professions fall under the 'correction' category and there is no fee to change the profession.

For future recruitment, the Qiwa platform explained that an accurate description of the professions is needed. The above professions cannot be hired.

SOURCE : SAUDI EXPATRIATES