Nepal government has said it would encourage its citizens living in Kuwait without valid residency permit to use the amnesty granted by Kuwait government.

 

Last Tuesday Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior issued a decree saying it will give general amnesty to all the foreigners who have overstayed in Kuwait without the legal permit. 

 

The 25-day amnesty period starts from January 29 and ends February 22, 2018. The amnesty allows those staying in Kuwait without valid residency permit to either leave the country without facing any legal action or penalties for breaching residency rules or update their legal status by completing formal procedures.  

 

This amnesty will give relief to hundreds of Nepali migrant workers facing difficulties in Kuwait for months without work and money. Most Nepalis with invalid resident permits have been stranded in Kuwait for months, and faced penalty of paying thousands of rupees.

 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Joint Secretary Tirtha Wagle said, “This is as an opportunity and the government will encourage Nepalis  to make use of the amnesty. “This is definitely an opportunities for those who have been struggling without work, salary and living in deplorable conditions there. They should utilise this to get back home. The embassy will formally inform Nepali citizens to use this amnesty.”

 

Kuwaiti authorities say nearly 130,000 expatriates, live in Kuwait without valid residency permits.  

 

In a well-known case of exploitation, nearly 300 Nepali citizens employed by Kuwait-based contracting company Kharafi National  were stranded for months after it neither paid wages nor gave them work following an internal feud. The Nepali migrant worker turned to the government there to facilitate their unpaid wages.

 

“This amnesty will bring relief to Nepali workers employed by Kharafi National. We are concerned about their pending salaries. The workers could decide whether to let go their salary and return home,” said Wagle. 

 

After the first group of 21 workers was rescued, the Nepali embassy requested the Kuwait to waive off penalties on workers for overstaying as their residency permit had expired because of company’s failure to renew it. The embassy had estimated that it would require nearly Rs. 4 million to pay penalties on behalf of Nepali workers. 

 

“Once the embassy formally advises Nepalis to go for the amnesty, we will also involve the Labour Ministry and Foreign Employment Promotion Board to co-ordinate support for our workers,” said Wagle and added, the embassy in Kuwait has initiated the process to rescue 15 other stranded workers on Kharafi National rolls.