Government issues urgent guidance for Bangladeshis working in Saudi Arabia: full do's and don'ts

The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment has published urgent guidance on what Bangladeshi expatriates working in Saudi Arabia should and should not do. The guidance was published on Monday on the ministry's official Facebook page. The government has urged expatriates to follow Saudi laws, culture and social customs and to work legally.

On verifying visas and contracts, workers are told to check their visa, employer and employment contract carefully before travelling. BMET clearance, training and medical tests must be completed, important documents kept in one's own possession, and no money paid to brokers on verbal assurances. Working on a visit visa is prohibited, as is working for another employer without permission.

Workers must carry their Iqama at all times and regularly check its validity on Absher. Employment contracts and work permits must be verified on the QIWA platform, and steps to renew or reissue a passport should begin at least six months before it expires.

No paper should be signed or thumb-printed without understanding it, and OTPs and passwords must never be shared. Copies of the employment contract and proof of work should be preserved, salaries taken through banking channels, and bank statements kept.

In case of any problem, workers are told to contact Maktab Amal on 19911 or the Bangladesh embassy. If a dispute arises with an employer, workers should seek a legal solution rather than fleeing the workplace.

Job changes must follow the legal process through the QIWA platform. Before returning home, workers should check whether any fines or a travel ban exist; the stated validity of a Final Exit visa must not be overstayed, and a new job must not be joined before approval is received.

Workers must not carry other people's money, gold or mobile phones in exchange for payment, and customs rules must be followed when carrying large amounts of cash or gold.

Special emphasis has been placed on Saudi law and social customs: modest dress and polite behaviour in public, standing in line and respecting the elderly. Littering, spitting or spitting betel juice on roads, and public quarrels, abuse and fighting must be avoided. No one should be insulted over race, country or skin colour.

Proper distance and decency must be maintained with women and children, and photographing, filming or touching them without permission must be avoided. During Ramadan, eating and smoking in public during the day should be avoided, mobile phones kept silent in mosques, and no comments or posts should be made about religion, the royal family or the government. Joining processions, gatherings or strikes is prohibited.

Online, news must be verified before sharing. Strong passwords and two-step security should be used, and only official apps. Rumours, obscene videos or memes must not be forwarded, and missile attacks, strike sites or security-sensitive locations must not be filmed, stored or shared.

Driving requires a valid licence and car insurance; seatbelts must be used and speed limits and traffic laws obeyed. Mobile phones must not be used while driving, and an accident scene must not be left. In an accident, emergency help is available on 911 or 999 and an ambulance on 997. An injured person should not be moved unnecessarily unless their life is at risk, and crowds and photos or videos at accident scenes should be avoided.

Money must be sent home only through banks and authorised exchanges; hundi is prohibited. SIMs, cards or bank accounts must not be lent to others, and no one should stand guarantor for another person's loan.

For health and safety, medicines require permission from the relevant authority, with the prescription and original packet carried; other people's packets, bags or medicines must not be carried. Alcohol, gambling and drugs must be avoided. In hot weather, workers should drink enough water and rest in the shade, and use safety equipment including helmets and safety belts at work. The guidance also notes a ban on working in direct sun from 12pm to 3pm between 15 June and 15 September.

Hajj, Umrah and Ziyarah require permission through the Nusuk app, and carrying pilgrims or performing Hajj without permission is prohibited. Marriages must be legally registered and children's births registered. In emergencies, help should be sought from the Saudi authorities as well as the Bangladesh embassy; workers should not argue with the police or pay brokers in the name of solving problems.

The notice urges Saudi-based expatriates to stay legally, obey the country's laws and preserve proof of financial transactions. It also advises them not to decide alone in danger, but to seek help from the Bangladesh embassy and the relevant authorities.