Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Saudi Arabia (Ratification: 1978)
Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 - Saudi Arabia (Ratification: 2021)

Articles 1(1), 2(1) and 25 of the Convention. Trafficking in persons. 1. Law enforcement. The Committee previously noted the adoption of Order No. 244 of 20/7/1430H (2009) prohibiting trafficking in persons, and requested information on its application in practice.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that by virtue of Ministerial Decree No. 4246 of 2015, a Unit to Combat Trafficking has been established within the Labour Inspection Department to handle cases of trafficking in persons. The Government also indicates that in 2013, there were 43 persons convicted for crimes related to trafficking, including 39 males and four females. Twenty-two cases related to forced labour were also registered, and 36 victims were rescued. In 2015, 176 criminal cases related to trafficking in persons were registered. The Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to prevent, suppress and combat trafficking. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate the measures taken to ensure that all persons who engage in trafficking are subject to prosecution and that in practice, sufficiently effective and dissuasive penalties are imposed, and to provide information on the application of the Human Trafficking Act (Order No. 244 of 2009) in practice, including the number of investigations and prosecutions, as well as the specific penalties applied to those convicted.

2. Protection and assistance for victims of trafficking in persons. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that several shelters have been established to provide assistance to victims of trafficking, and the Standing Committee to Combat Trafficking frequently visits these shelters in order to enhance the services provided to the victims. The Government also indicates that the Standing Committee to Combat Trafficking has carried out a certain number of activities, including training of law enforcement officials with regard to victim identification; coordinating and implementing various awareness-raising initiatives with regard to the issue of trafficking; and providing assistance, as well as legal and social protection to victims of trafficking in persons. The Standing Committee had also coordinated with competent authorities for the repatriation of victims to their country of origin. The Committee requests the Government to pursue its efforts to provide protection and assistance (including medical, psychological and legal assistance) to victims of trafficking, as well as to provide information on the number of persons benefiting from such assistance. The Committee also requests the Government to take the necessary measures to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement officials to identify cases of trafficking.

Articles 1(1) and 2(1). Freedom of workers to terminate employment. In its earlier comments, the Committee noted pursuant to section 48 of the Labour Code (on the termination of training or qualification contracts), an employer may require a trainee to work for him or her upon completion of the training period for a period not to exceed twice the duration of that period or one year, whichever is longer. The Committee requested the Government to provide information on the application in practice of section 48, indicating the number of cases of trainees being required to work after completion of their training period.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that providing reliable statistics on the number of trainees with regard to section 48 of the Labour Code remains one of the major challenges in the country. The Government also states that following the adoption of Order No. 64283 of 9 October 2015, a National Institute for Statistics has been established in this regard. The Committee hopes that the Government will be able to provide statistics on the number of cases of trainees that have been required to work after completion of their training period, once available.