Arab News points out a phenomenon rather familiar to those with any background in economics, but still one worth mentioning: People create markets, including black markets in labor.

If Saudis were not so eager to hire, illegally, domestic workers who were jumping their existing contracts, then there would be fewer of those illegal workers. Obvious.

The piece mentions the various sanctions available to be imposed upon those that break the labor laws, from fines to deportation. Given the rampant illegal hiring, perhaps the fines need to be increased. Perhaps a stint in jail for those illegally hiring workers might help. Perhaps a special column in the newspapers printing the names of violators would work best.

Citizens fueling black market for illegal maids

EDDAH: An official of the Passport Department blamed Saudi citizens for the thriving black market for illegal domestic workers particularly during the month of Ramadan when families seek out extra hands to deal with lots of visitors and iftar fast breaking.

“It is the citizens without any sense of patriotism who look for illegal domestic maids and encourage the black market to supply runaway housemaids or those who remain back in the country after Umrah or Haj season,” Maj. Gen. Adel Katib, assistant director general of Passport Department for Haj and Umrah in Makkah province, said in a statement to Asharq Al-Awsat yesterday.

Katib was prompted to put the blame on citizens after he examined several reports on runaway maids available at the Passport Department.

“There are citizens who tempt and lure housemaids with the help of expatriate middlemen to work for them with salaries several times higher than they used to receive from their sponsors on the basis of their contracts,” he added.
…