Khaberni - Brigadier Dr. Saed Al-Qatawneh, Director of the Residence and Borders Administration, in his talk on Public Security radio, confirmed that anyone who shelters a runaway maid or provides her with a place to stay or work, whether paid or unpaid, will subject themselves to legal accountability and financial penalties according to the law.
Brigadier Al-Qatawneh emphasized that investigations will encompass anyone proven to be involved or interfering in the escape of maids from their employers' homes, whether through recruitment offices or intermediaries, or those providing them with alternative accommodation or employment, confirming that all such individuals will be subject to legal accountability and tightened financial penalties.
He pointed out that the recent amendments to the Residence and Foreign Affairs Law have intensified penalties for violators, stating that Article (11) of the law mandates every foreigner wishing to stay in the Kingdom for more than two weeks to report to the Residence and Borders Administration or one of its branches or the security center in their area to register their residence and information, and the penalty for violating this provision has been raised to (200) Jordanian Dinars.
He also clarified that Article (14) of the law has increased the penalty to a fine of (200) Jordanian Dinars for anyone who harbors a foreigner or provides him or her with accommodation or a place of stay, whether in exchange for payment or not, without reporting their presence to the competent authorities within 48 hours of their arrival or departure.
Brigadier Al-Qatawneh added that legal responsibility will also extend to anyone contributing to the smuggling of maids from their workplaces or providing them with new shelter or employment without reporting within the specified deadline, explaining that their places of residence and employment during the escape period will be verified, and anyone found involved or negligent in reporting will be held accountable according to the law.
The Director of Residence and Borders stressed that these measures come as part of the efforts to control any practices in violation of the law or that compromise community security, emphasizing that the Public Security Directorate will not be lenient in applying the law to any party or individual proven to be involved in sheltering or employing a runaway maid.
Brigadier Dr. Saed Al-Qatawneh added that there is ongoing intensive follow-up and coordination with the Ministry of Labor, as the entity responsible for the case of runaway maids, as part of joint work plans aimed at reducing escape cases and identifying those involved.
He also confirmed the existence of cooperation and coordination with the Guild of Owners of Recruitment and Employment Agencies for House Workers, which shows great concern for preserving the reputation and integrity of licensed recruitment offices, by monitoring and regulating any offices proven through investigations to be involved in escape operations or violation of work regulations.
