Free SIMs handed out to arriving expats 

Riyadh : The Labor Ministry has been handing out free pre-paid SIM cards to arriving expatriate workers here.

When Indian expatriate Mohammad Arshad arrived at King Khalid International Airport recently, a ministry employee took him to a counter set up by the Saudi Telecommunications Company (STC).

Officials at the counter briefed him on the laws of the country and his rights and duties and then handed him his free card, which is part of the ministry’s new service for arriving expatriates, according to a report in a local publication on Wednesday.

Last week, the ministry launched the service, which is a partnership between STC and the General Authority for Civil Aviation. The service includes a brochure on workers’ rights and obligations and how to seek assistance from the ministry when in distress.

The SIM cards are made available in several foreign languages, and will help workers communicate with their missions and loved ones back home. The idea is to make workers feel safe and comfortable during their stay in the Kingdom, the ministry said.

Other features include free minutes for local and international calls and text messages. Workers can contact the customer service number 19911 for any assistance required from the government.

The program will be launched at other international gateways to the Kingdom in the coming weeks.