Seasonal visas only for Makkah, Madinah

April 6, 2014

Jeddah, Apr 6: Seasonal work visas will only be issued at labor offices in Makkah and Madinah, according to a recent decision made by the Council of Ministers.

Companies applying for such visas will henceforth be required to have at least a branch office in either region, said one source.

The decision is expected to drastically reduce visa trafficking and system manipulation.

The Council of Ministers has also demanded that agents recruiting temporary workers complete projects within that time frame to avoid foreigners overstaying.

The Royal Court also made a decision to eliminate costs borne by the government on behalf of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), which previously included paying fees for the organization 's seasonal visas.

The decision abolishes previous provisions that allow butchers, seasonal laborers and vets recruited by the IDB to perform the Haj pilgrimage at the state 's expense.

The council has agreed to refer the new list of regulations for the issuance of seasonal visas to the Shoura Council.

Seasonal work visas, temporary work visas or visa extensions will each cost SR1,000, according to a recent proposal.

Legislative bodies will be tasked with issuing permits for Labor Ministry inspectors to enter factories and companies during the Haj season to ensure that expat workers are legally employed.

The Labor Ministry has also been requested to produce a guide explaining rules for issuing temporary visas, which will also include stipulations such as diversifying recruitment from several labor-exporting countries.

The guide will also emphasize that employers have laborers undertake the tasks that they were originally hired for and warned that violators would incur fines.

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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