Is It Permissible to Recover Visa Costs from Domestic Workers in KSA?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
Is it permissible to recover visa costs from a domestic worker in KSA, knowing that local law requires the sponsor to bear these charges, even if the worker agreed to repay them before employment?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
Attempting to recover costs in this manner may violate the country’s laws. It may not be entirely impermissible, as the worker previously consented to repay these costs as a condition of their employment. This agreement could provide a legal basis for the recovery. Still, it is essential to ensure that the terms are clearly outlined and comply with relevant labor laws to avoid legal repercussions.
Kathir bin’ Amr bin’ Awf Al-Muzani narrated from his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “Reconciliation is allowed among the Muslims, except for reconciliation that makes the lawful unlawful, or the unlawful lawful. And the Muslims will be held to their conditions, except the conditions that make the lawful unlawful, or the unlawful lawful.” [Tirmidhi]
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. In sha Allah, you will receive guidance and direction.
– Provision and Work: A Reader – SeekersGuidance
– Mutual Agreement In Transactions
I pray this helps answer your question.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.