What is Huroob?

"Huroob" is an Arabic term that signifies the act of escaping, absconding, or running away, particularly in the context of an employee being absent from work without permission. In accordance with Saudi Labor Law, it is the responsibility of the employer to notify the passport authorities when their Saudi expatriate employee has been absent from work for a specific duration, effectively designating them as a "Huroob" or absconder.

Once an expatriate employee is declared as a "Huroob," several consequences follow:

Their Saudi Residency Permit (Iqama/Muqeem ID) will be revoked.
They are no longer permitted to stay in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The benefits and rights they previously held as a legal employee are nullified.
They are required to leave Saudi Arabia through deportation centers, commonly referred to as "Tharheels."
They face a five-year ban from reentering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
If the employer fails to report the absence of their employee, they will face penalties as mandated by Saudi Labor Law. The penalties for sponsors or employers who do not report a runaway employee include a fine of 5,000 SR for the first offense, 10,000 SR for the second offense, and 15,000 SR for the third offense, along with the possibility of one month of imprisonment.

In the event of a runaway employee, the deportation process will vary depending on whether the employee was working under a sponsor or independently. If under a sponsor, the employer is responsible for the expenses associated with deportation. If the employee was self-employed, they will bear the costs of their own deportation.

It's important to note that in some instances, employers or sponsors may exploit the "Huroob" provision to thwart employees who intend to approach the labor court for various reasons, such as mistreatment or non-payment of salaries. According to Saudi Labor Law, an employer (sponsor) is generally not allowed to terminate an employee's contract without providing due notice, compensation, or a valid reason, and they must offer the worker an opportunity to present their objections to the termination.