The Council of Ministers approves the update of the regulation of temporary work visas and temporary work for Hajj and Umrah services

In its session today, Tuesday, the Council of Ministers approved the update of the regulation of temporary work visas and temporary work for Hajj and Umrah services.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development explained that the updated regulation for temporary work visas and temporary work for Hajj and Umrah services will give high flexibility to the private sector to benefit from temporary visas according to its needs and labor market requirements, as it will contribute to providing a more attractive labor market.

The updates to the list took into account the needs of establishments operating in the Umrah season and their inclusion in the temporary work visa, and the amendment of the name of the seasonal work visa to be a temporary work visa for Hajj and Umrah services, in addition to extending the grace period to be from the fifteenth of the month of Sha'ban until the end of the month of Muharram.

The articles of the regulation after the update also included a detailed explanation of the mechanisms of work between the relevant authorities, and the time periods required to complete the procedures, in order to ensure the governance of operations and enhance the level of transparency.

The updates also took into account the rights of the parties to the contractual relationship, as the regulation obligated the provision of a copy of the employment contract signed by both parties, and the requirement of medical insurance as a prerequisite before granting the visa by the Kingdom's representations abroad.

The updated regulation singled out a chapter of penalties with the aim of preventing any abuses or practices that lead to the misuse of these visas. It also included the abolition of the requirement for endorsement when issuing a temporary work visa, and the updates granted greater flexibility to facilities by extending the period of temporary visas for a similar period, i.e. (90) additional days.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development explained that the new amendments will be in force after 180 days from the date of their approval.