Free visa' traders to be classified as 'human traffickers'

January 1, 2014

Jeddah, Jan 1: Issuing a stern warning to businessmen and traders who hire foreign workers and leave them without providing any job, Saudi Arabian government has said that such cheaters would be considered as 'human traffickers'.

“They will be punished with jail term and not with any fines. These traders will also be classified as 'human traffickers',” said Kingdom's Minister of Labor Adel Fakieh while addressing an open meet with the business community at the headquarters of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) recently.

Fakieh said that his ministry has completed coordination with the Ministry of Interior with regard to prosecuting those involved in visa trade.

According to the minister, companies and firms that fall under medium green category have to approach labor office or the concerned committees under the ministry for getting employment visas.

Fakieh said the percentage of Saudization was doubled to 15.1 percent from seven percent after the Nitaqat program was implemented.

“There has also been a fall in the rate of unemployment from 12.4 percent before Nitaqat to 11.7 percent during the third quarter of 2013. After Nitaqat, the number of Saudi employees who draw a monthly salary of SR3,000 or more rose to more than one million from 356,806, the figure before Nitaqat,” he said, adding that there was 200 percent increase in the number of Saudis registered with the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) during the period.

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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