Saudi Arabia has announced amnesty to illegal migrant workers‚ The Arab News reported today quoting Labour Minister Adel Fakeih. According to Fakeih‚ the amnesty plan will help to clean up the labour market. 

According to the plan‚ undocumented migrants can leave Saudi Arabia on exit-only visas without being penalised. About one million undocumented or illegal workers are believed to be working in Saudi Arabia. 

Nepal has welcomed the amnesty plan. “It will help us to bring our workers residing in the country back to Nepal who do not have work permit and other legal documents‚” said Nepali ambassador in the country‚ Udaya Raj Pandey. 

According to him‚ nearly 80‚000 Nepalis are expected to benefit from the announcement where some 500‚000 migrants are believed to be working there.

Run away workers and workers without passport can also return to their country after the amnesty plan will be effective. 

According to the minister‚ the decision will also help the country to promote local workers through Nitaqat in private sector industries and enterprises. “Foreign workers engaged with Red category companies — the companies that are not employing Saudi nationals — will also leave their jobs and return to their countries‚” said Fakeih. 

There are more than 1.1 million companies in the private sector in Saudi Arabia. According to a study‚ 11 per cent per cent of them do not exist as they were created just to get visas while 31 per cent of them are involved in cover-up businesses and do not employ any Saudis. 

The Nitaqat system was instrumental in raising the number of Green category companies from 30 to 60 per cent. More than 500‚000 Saudis have received jobs following the introduction of the Nitaqat system‚ he added. Fakeih said the Interior Ministry backs labour inspectors by deploying police officers to carry out their mission effectively to track undocumented workers. 

The Saudi government has announced amnesty to foreign workers in 2011. About 300‚000 illegal workers had benefited from the amnesty. Similarly‚ Saudi Arabia had also announced amnesty plan in 2010.

Published on: 26 February 2013 | The Himalayan Times