RIYADH: With the new phase of the “Nation Without Violators” campaign in progress to deport foreign workers illegally staying in violation of residence, labor and border regulations of the Kingdom, the Ministry of Commerce and Investment has swung into action by carrying out raids on commercial establishments to verify residency law commitments and detect violators of the Anti-commercial Fraud Law.

“Within this national campaign to track and control the illegal expats and those violating the residence, labor and border security systems, the ministry has carried out inspection tours on commercial establishments in different parts of the Kingdom to verify the regularity of commercial institutions, the commitment of their staff with the rules and regulations relevant to residence and labor laws, besides seeking violators of the Anti-commercial Fraud Law and Anti-commercial Concealment Law,” the media department at the ministry said.

It added that the ministry’s campaign, on the first day, resulted in the closure of 14 unlicensed facilities in Riyadh, in addition to the escape of some violators and illegal expats immediately after the start of the inspection campaign.

Moreover, the ministry summoned the owners of 24 institutions suspected of commercial concealment, where they are heard and then referred to the public prosecution to complete the necessary legal procedures against them.

Furthermore, the ministry reaffirmed that all investors in the commercial sector must not employ expatriates who violate residence and labor laws in any way, and that they should also check and verify their employees’ documents.

The ministry also warned employers not to give shelter to any illegal expatriate worker and asserted that government agencies participating in the national campaign, will not hesitate to impose the maximum penalties on commercial establishments employing illegal workers.

Earlier, the government granted a 90-day amnesty beginning March 29, 2017, and then renewed it twice.

Riyadh Governor Prince Faisal bin Bandar approved an order instructing security authorities to apprehend foreign workers illegally staying in the region.

Accordingly, a major crack down on such illegals is in progress in all parts of the region in a strong bid to get rid of such elements from the capital region.

According to police reports, most crimes in the city are committed by this sector who stay in the capital illegally.