Undocumented Expatriates
KSA gives 2 months for legalisation
In a major relief to undocumented expatriates, Saudi authorities have granted a two-month grace period for thousands of expatriates who could not correct their legal status during the seven-month amnesty period to complete the rectification procedures at their Passport Department. Jeddah-based English daily Arabnews reported on Friday that Saudi interior minister Prince Muhammad bin Naif has ordered the department to complete correction procedures of expatriates whose papers were being processed by their Labour Ministry during the amnesty period before March 1.
The minister issued the order in view of various circumstances under which many expatriates could not complete their residency correction procedures during the amnesty that ended on November 3.
The order will allay fears of many expatriates, whose rectification papers were in the midst of processing when the amnesty ended, that they could be arrested or penalised or deported as violators of the Kingdom’s immigration regulations.
The authorities had earlier warned that illegal workers would face penal measures such as two years in jail besides facing fines of up to SR 100,000. The new grace period came into effect on January 2.
About 7.5 lakh Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia have so far been legalised by taking the opportunity of amnesty extended by Saudi government up to November 3, 2013, said a Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training official.
About 30,000 Bangladeshi workers have already returned home with out-pass from Saudi Arabia, he said.
The remaining undocumented Bangladeshi workers could take the opportunity to legalise their status, he said.
According to BMET data, over 26 lakh Bangladeshi workers have so far gone to Saudi Arabia with jobs since 1976.
-With New Age input
