RIYADH: The Ministry of Labor and Social Development launched an intensive campaign to ensure that no illegal workers are employed in Makkah and Madinah during the Hajj season on a temporary basis.
To execute the campaign well the department of inspection and development of work environment is taking part in preparations for the Hajj season and will make inspections to track down illegal temporary workers in the two cities.
”The labor inspectors from the department of inspection will check the legality of temporary worker visas issued for the Hajj season at all air, land and sea ports surrounding the Hajj area, including special ports that receive them,” Khaled Abalkhail, a spokesman of the ministry, said Monday.
“The labor inspectors are working to enlist all entities that requested temporary worker visas and prepare a file for each one in order to prepare an effective mechanism for pinpointing violations and launching inspection rounds in the Hajj area, as well as participating in an emergency committee for Hajj,” he added.
The ministry, he said, seeks to control labor violations related to temporary worker visas during the Hajj season by tracking down illegal workers and penalizing employers who fail to comply with the ministry’s regulations.
The Labor Ministry recently launched an electronic service aimed at providing temporary work during the Hajj season via Ajeer portal. It was a move aimed at providing an electronic market that shows the supply and demand for jobs during the Hajj season as the portal brings together owners of companies providing services to the pilgrims in the two holy cities as well as individuals seeking temporary jobs during the Hajj season.
The e-platform allows those establishments operating during the Hajj season to post job opportunities so jobseekers can apply for them and earn temporary permits to work in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah providing various services to the pilgrims.
The e-service allows the jobseekers to register with the portal, upload their bio-data, review available vacancies, apply for suitable posts and manage job requests from employers with the ability to accept the opportunities that most suit them.
The contractual process is followed by endorsement between the Hajj companies and workers seeking temporary employment during the Hajj season.
Significantly, the Labor Ministry last year established a field inspection center to raise awareness and for the effectiveness of the inspection visits using advanced technologies and keep the ministry’s officials updated about inspection rounds and to unify and document procedures undertaken by labor inspectors.
The center is the cornerstone to support inspectors in the field, overcome related obstacles faced by them, answer their inquiries during the task-force campaign and lay out suitable solutions as well.
Abalkhail also urged people to inform officials from the department of inspection in case of labor violations to track down illegal temporary workers.
The labor violations can be reported and individuals can make inquiries dialing the customer service number (19911) or using the smartphone app Ma3an lil Rasd, which allows customers to report violations relating to the labor regulations.
Saudi Ministry of Labor launches campaign to track illegal workers in Makkah, Madinah during Hajj
Saudi Ministry of Labor launches campaign to track illegal workers in Makkah, Madinah during Hajj
- The ministry will inspect and track down illegal temporary workers in the two cities
- It recently launched an electronic service aimed at providing temporary work during the Hajj season
The secret keepers of desert balance in Saudi Arabia
- How the Kingdom’s wildcats control pests, protect public health, and sustain the ecosystem
RIYADH: During the summer of 2024, two desert lynx kittens were born in Taif as part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to protect and increase the population of caracals in the country.
Although caracals are critically endangered, wildcats in general play a significant ecological role in the Kingdom. They act as natural pest control, and Saudi Arabia is committed to conserving these species while increasing their populations to support a thriving ecosystem.
Despite the Kingdom’s harsh, arid climate, conditions are suitable for wildcats not only to survive but also to flourish. Among the terrestrial species inhabiting Saudi Arabia are sand cats, Arabian wildcats, and the desert lynx.
Felis margarita, or sand cats, are small — around 40-60 cm — with pale sandy fur that allows them to blend into the desert. They have a broad head, large ears, and long hair on the bottom of their feet to walk on hot sand.
“It is small in size and does not mate with other cats. It is the only cat species in the world with hair on the soles of its feet instead of skin to prevent it from sinking into the sand,” said Obaid Alouni, a Saudi environmentalist.
Alouni explained that one defensive technique sand cats use is to lie flat on the ground to avoid detection.
“It lies flat on the ground when it senses danger to avoid being noticed by other animals.”
These cats primarily feed on rodents and small reptiles, occasionally large insects, obtaining their water from their prey. Sand cats are native to West Asia and help regulate rodent and insect populations, preventing outbreaks and reducing disease spread.
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Interestingly, raising sand cats as domestic pets is becoming more popular, Alouni said. But he emphasized that adoption is easier when they are kittens, as they remain wild animals. Although widely distributed across the Kingdom, exact population numbers are difficult to determine due to their elusive nature. They are currently listed as “least concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Similar to sand cats, Arabian wildcats (Felis lybica) are found across the Arabian Peninsula and play a vital role in environmental health.
“They are wild cats that live independently without human intervention,” Alouni told Arab News.
Arabian wildcats resemble domestic cats but have thicker, sandy to grey-brown coats with faint stripes or spots and ringed tails with blunt tips. Like sand cats, they feed on rodents, birds, reptiles, and insects and are listed as “least concern” by the IUCN.
However, Alouni warned that pure populations of Arabian wildcats in Saudi Arabia could be threatened by hybridization with domestic cats.
“Currently, wild cats face the problem of interbreeding with domestic cats. This weakens their immune systems and makes them more susceptible to diseases from other cats,” he said.
“This contributes to the extinction of the purebred lineage and, consequently, the disappearance of their wild instincts,” he added.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Sand cats are the only cat species with hair on the soles of their feet, allowing them to walk on hot sand without sinking.
• Caracals, locally known as Al-Washaq, are native and endangered, capable of jumping 3 to 4 meters in a single leap.
• Pure populations of the Arabian wildcat are at risk due to hybridization with domestic cats.
While both species are desert dwellers, sand cats are harder to spot as they avoid heavily trafficked areas. They are mainly found in the Ad Dahna desert and the Empty Quarter, where sand dunes dominate the landscape. Arabian wildcats, however, inhabit rocky or mountainous areas such as the Tuwaiq Mountains, valleys, and farms with abundant small prey.
“Wild cats come around towns and villages, and unfortunately, begin mating with domesticated cats that people release outside,” Alouni explained. He stressed the importance of keeping domestic cats away from wildcat habitats, including deserts and camping sites.
The third wildcat species native to Saudi Arabia, the caracal or desert lynx, is critically endangered. “The lynx is classified in size between large and small, and is distinguished by its jump, which can reach 3 meters or even 4 meters in the sky,” Alouni described.
Locally known as Al-Washaq, desert lynx have reddish-tan coats, long legs, and black-tufted ears. They feed on birds, rodents, and sometimes small antelopes. Thankfully, these cats are protected under Saudi law due to their critically endangered status.
Hunting any sand cats, Arabian wildcats, or desert lynx can result in fines of approximately $20,000, according to the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.
“There is a very severe financial penalty in Saudi Arabia for anyone who hunts it,” Alouni added.
The Kingdom has strict regulations to protect endangered animals, criminalizing not only hunting or killing but also trade. Violators could face penalties of up to $8 million, up to 10 years in prison, or both.
Overall, sand cats, Al-Washaq, and Arabian wildcats are essential to maintaining a healthy environment in Saudi Arabia. By controlling rodent populations, they help prevent outbreaks that could threaten agriculture and public health.
