Saudi Arabia drags feet on expat wives work permits

A popular suggestion that English-speaking expat wives should be granted work permits to teach in Saudi schools may have fallen on deaf ears within the kingdom’s government.

The proposed decision by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Labour, welcomed by a majority of the kingdom’s teachers, involved permission of wives and daughters of expats to teach in Saudi schools. However, a source from within the ministry is now stating that approval has not been granted as yet.

The unnamed source told the Arab news that no meetings to discuss the proposal had taken place, nor had any approval been given to date. He added that ministers are at present considering the idea without any result.

Saudi school authorities are fully in favour of the proposal, saying that legalising the number of female expat teachers would solve many problems and help the students. Principal of Al-Hukma International School Sadiya Kaleem stated that all Saudi schools are facing difficulties in legalising female staff.

Many, she added, have been working as teachers for years, and new staff are easily available from within the kingdom. If it becomes necessary to bring in female teachers form outside the kingdom, she explained, costs will rise as they will be forced to sponsor their husbands.

Another international school principal said she would welcome new Labour Ministry legislation allowing work permits to be granted to expatriate wives and daughters. She feels that immigrant female teachers would need to bring their families in as well, resulting in unpopular and often unaffordable increases in fees due to the increased cost of hiring female teachers from overseas.

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