JEDDAH, 28 August 2005 — The Labor Ministry provides free legal consultancy for both employers and employees, according to Mohammed ibn Suleiman Al-Duwaish, the director of the legal department and labor relations at the ministry.

Duwaish made the statement as a clarification of some points raised by expatriates in a report entitled “Legal Mechanism Needs Strengthening, Feel Expats” published by Arab News earlier this month.

In an interview with Arab News, members of the expatriate community urged the government to strengthen legal mechanisms for the protection of expatriates.

Amin Yusuf, a Sri Lankan, said that expatriates were unable to obtain free legal advice. Duwaish clarified that the ministry was ready to provide legal consultancy free of charge for those who wanted such services.

He also emphasized that it was the duty of the employer to pay all expenses related to recruitment of labor in accordance with a Cabinet decision eight years ago.

“After this decision, many workers demanded that employers pay such expenses and the labor court ruled in their favor,” Duwaish said in reference to fees for iqama renewal and exit and re-entry visas.

Equal treatment of less-experienced Saudis and highly experienced expatriates was another point raised in the report. “The Labor Law insists that employers treat their workers equally if they have equal qualifications and experience,” the official said.

On the issue concerning recurrent absence of employers at labor dispute hearings, Duwaish said the law allowed both plaintiffs and defendants to be absent for genuine reasons for a single session. “But the aggrieved party can demand damages caused as a result of such absences,” he said.