MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 5, 2012) – A new regulation in Saudi Arabia that requires personal information of cell phone users are expected to affect thousands of undocumented or illegal migrants, according to Migrante-Middle East.
It said Saudi’s Communication and Information Technology Commission requires its customers to register or update their personal information to avoid disruption of their SIM card services.
The new regulation, which was announced as early as July, requires customers to register their National Identification Number or Iqama immediately after entering their prepaid card number to charge SIM cards, recharge, or transfer balances.
In compliance with the new regulation, Saudi telecommunication companies will disconnect SIM card services of customers who failed to register or update their personal information.
“This is an internal policy of the host government that we fully respect and abide,” said Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona.
Monterona said because of the new regulation many undocumented Filipino workers would not be able to make phone calls, especially to their families in the Philippines.
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