Domestic workers under Article 20 can transfer residencies to Article 18

There is a good news for those who are in Article 20 or in the domestic work visa. "Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor has given the domestic personnel working under Article 20 — including drivers and cooks, to transfer their residencies to Article 18 of the private sector by Oct 31, irrespective of the period spent with the existing sponsor, reports Al-Shahid daily quoting the Undersecretary of Labor Mansour Al-Mansour.



Al-Mansour clarified the workers will only be allowed to transfer to a commercial or industrial firm owned by the existing sponsor or his first degree relatives, such as the wife, husband, children or parents. He added the decision includes domestic personnel having valid residency before April 1, 2008.



Earlier, two conditions were set to transfer the residency of domestic personnel, wherein the worker must have spent at least one year with the existing sponsor before being allowed to transfer to Article 18. Secondly, the residency could be transferred by the existing sponsor, provided he owned a commercial license.



With the new decision, domestic workers can easily transfer to Article 18 of the private sector, through their existing sponsors, or the relatives of the sponsors, provided a commercial or industrial firm has been registered in their names. It is noteworthy the issuance of work permit has been suspended in the last three years, with the exception of certain categories." as reported by ArabTimes

Thos who want to change the residency, may hurry to get this done.