The escape of a domestic worker has become a source of concern for many families. This issue raises legal and financial challenges that affect employers. The reasons behind this may be mistreatment, working conditions that do not meet their needs, or even tempting offers from other places. In this article, we will review the most prominent reasons behind the escape of domestic workers and explain the measures that you can take to protect your rights and deal with this situation intelligently.
What are the common reasons for a domestic worker to run away in Saudi Arabia?
Workers may behave incorrectly, such as the domestic worker running away, and therefore they mustSecuring their rightsOr bring them under supervisionMinistry of Human ResourcesThis is extremely important and among the most prominent reasons that push a domestic worker to run away are:
Abuse
- Among the reasons that lead toThe domestic worker escapes after the probation periodIt is mistreatment by employers, and if they are subjected to attacks on their property or failure to respect their rights, psychological and physical assault may increase their desire to make this decision.
Failure to provide basic needs
- When food, water and adequate housing needs are not met, it devalues the worker and makes her feel that her rights have been violated, which may prompt her to leave work.
Delay in disbursing salaries
- The worker needs to meet her daily needs and must provide financial support to her family members, but some employers delay paying salaries, or their financial situation may be not good, which prevents them from paying salaries in a timely manner, and all of this prompts the worker to think about running away.
The worker does not adapt to work
- When girls have difficulty adapting to the customs and traditions of their home, or do not understand dialects correctly and feel lonely, this negatively affects their psychology, so some of them resort to running away as if it were the solution.
Addressing the causes of worker flight
Improving working conditions
- Employers must provide a suitable and fair working environment for domestic workers, which requires improving wages and ensuring the availability of all basic needs.
Enhance communication and understanding
- Employers and workers must communicate effectively and build relationships based on respect and trust. This contributes to reducing tensions and misunderstandings that may lead to the domestic worker running away.
The role of recruitment offices in reducing the phenomenon of domestic workers running away
Recruitment offices contribute to reducing absconding by carefully selecting qualified workers, extending warranty periods, committing to compensate the employer with an alternative, and educating workers about customs and traditions. Below we explain in some detail the role of these offices in addressing this phenomenon:
- There is a vetting process to select female workers and ensure their ability to carry out the required tasks, because bringing in unqualified workers may lead to their dissatisfaction and their desire to escape.
- Offices can also cooperate with the competent authorities to strengthen oversight of the hiring of runaway workers, and this will contribute to reducing their chances of finding shelter or another job.
- It is also preferable to increase the warranty period that offices commit to with the employer, as some sponsors believe that the current period is insufficient and request that it be extended to at least six months to protect their rights.
- On the other hand, offices must ensure that they adhere to the terms of the contracts they have concluded with sponsors, especially with regard to compensating the employer with an alternative if the worker flees.
- Some office owners indicated that they do not always commit to compensating the substitute, even though this is stipulated in the contract.
- At the same time, it is recommended that contracts include clauses that protect the rights of both the employer and the worker, as well as address the problem of domestic workers running away.
- It is also necessary to educate workers about local customs and traditions and the tasks required of them before their arrival.
Conditions for filing a worker escape case in Saudi Arabia
If the domestic worker decides to run away, she must file a report How to file a maid escape case in which you need the following:
- An official report has been submitted through the legal authorities due to the worker’s escape.
- You must have an official employment contract linking you to the worker.
- Wait 15 days after filing a report before filing a case.
- Please bring the national ID of both the worker and the employer.
What are the legal procedures followed when a domestic worker runs away?
The legal procedures when a worker escapes are to submit an electronic report and update the residency status. Below we explain in some detail the steps followed:
- A report about the runaway worker can be submitted electronically through the Absher platform or through the police department.
- After submitting the report, the employer updates the residence status in his records to make her absent from work, which prevents her from working elsewhere.
- reduces responsibility for any incorrect actions or behaviors carried out by this worker during her absence.
FAQ
Who are the agencies responsible for following up on cases of domestic worker escapes?
The employer will be responsible for the worker until her escape or absence is officially reported and after submitting the report, whether online or at the police station, and the employer is exempted from responsibility towards the worker.
Can a runaway domestic worker get another job in Saudi Arabia?
The runaway domestic worker cannot find another job in Saudi Arabia because she faces penalties that include deportation and a permanent ban on her entry into the Kingdom.
When must the employer file a report about the domestic worker running away?
The employer must report the absence of workers at home as soon as possible if they are absent without a convincing reason and ensure that their residency is still valid and the report is submitted only once for each worker.
How do I guarantee my rights if the worker runs away?
In order to protect your rights in the event of a domestic worker running away, you must submit an absence report via the Absher electronic platform. You should also contact the recruitment office to document the case and request compensation or an alternative in accordance with the contract concluded between you and to guarantee the punishment for the worker’s escape. Home.
Can the employer recover the recruitment costs in the event that the worker runs away?
Of course, the employer can recover the cost of recruitment during the trial period after deducting the period during which the worker worked, according to a specific formula, but the visa fees cannot be recovered if the worker flees.
Can I transfer sponsorship if there is a report of a domestic worker absconding?
The domestic worker’s sponsorship cannot be transferred if he has an active escape report and you must cancel the report first before starting the sponsorship transfer procedures.
What are the cases of domestic workers’ compensation?
In Saudi Arabia, domestic workers are entitled to compensation if they are exposed to complete or partial permanent disability as a result of an accident or if the employer does not pay salaries and benefits due to his death or permanent disability.
Is there insurance against domestic workers running away?
Yes, insurance against labor escape is available in Saudi Arabia within a document that is automatically activated upon the worker’s arrival via the Musaned platform and covers the costs of return, cases of rejection after trial, and death or disability.
How much does it cost to insure domestic workers against escape in Saudi Arabia?
The cost ranges between 600 and 2,000 riyals, depending on the insurance company, the nationality of the worker, and the duration of the contract, and compensation includes alternative recruitment costs or partial compensation depending on the document.
What is a citizen’s right in the event that domestic workers run away?
He has the right to report it through Absher to release his responsibility, and to recover the amount from the recruitment office within 90 days or from the insurance company after that, and he can file a legal claim.
What are the procedures that protect the sponsor’s right if the domestic worker runs away?
Submit an absence report via Absher immediately, and keep the documents (contract, insurance, report). Within 90 days, the recruitment office will claim, and then the insurance company within 15 days of the report.
What are the statutory rights of the sponsor when a maid runs away in Saudi Arabia?
Registering the report through Absher eliminates legal responsibility. Within 90 days, the recruitment office will demand, after which insurance will be required if the contract includes it.
How do you file a report or escape case against a worker in Saudi Arabia?
Through the Absher platform > Employment Services > Reporting absence, provided that the residence permit is valid and no final exit has been issued. The report will be canceled within 15 days, after which the worker will be deported.
What is the punishment for a worker who runs away from her sponsor in Saudi Arabia?
She may be fined up to 2,000 riyals, banned from working in Saudi Arabia, and deported at her expense or at the state’s expense if she does not have the money.
Sources:
We can avoid the escape of the domestic worker if we choose her appropriately and provide her with a comfortable work environment. In the event of escape occurring, proper legal treatment protects our rights and reduces the damage. In the end, awareness and advance planning are among the best ways to guarantee the right of the citizen in the event of the worker running away. Home in the future.
