Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Eng. Ahmed Al-Sharqi, assistant undersecretary for policies at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, said that the introduction of the new service of quarterly payment of residency permit (iqama) fee aims at achieving greater flexibility in managing the contractual relationship between the establishment or the employer and the expatriate workers.

“It also targets improving the management of cash flows of establishments in the private sector, besides facilitating the scheduling of their financial payments,” he said.

Al-Sharqi outlined the major objectives and benefits of allowing quarterly payment of the fee for the issuance and renewal of iqama, which is linked to work permit, while attending the “Program 120” on Al-Ekhbariya television channel.

He said the new service aims to give greater flexibility to private sector establishments, as business owners and commercial establishments and the expatriate workers can take advantage of it.

The ministry official said that those who are exempted from the quarterly payment service include domestic workers and the like. According to an earlier decision of the Council of Ministers, some establishments are exempted from the payment of expatriate fee (financial compensation), which is amounted to SR800 per month.

These include small establishments with a number of employees of 9 or less, provided that the owner of the establishment is full-time employee there and has registration in the social insurance, apart from a Saudi national being among the employees of the establishment.