Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain yesterday urged Bangladeshi workers who are living illegally in Saudi Arabia to take advantage of the general amnesty.
“If anybody is found staying illegally in Saudi Arabia after the end of the amnesty on November 4, the person has to pay one lakh Saudi Riyal as fine and face one year imprisonment,” he said at a press briefing.
Saudi Arabia earlier declared general amnesty for foreign workers from May till July 4 so that they can correct their visa status. Later, the amnesty deadline was extended till November 4 following requests from foreign embassies.
Mosharraf briefed journalists following his recent visit to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. He said the Saudi government would consider recruiting more Bangladeshi workers after the amnesty deadline.
Expatriates’ Welfare Secretary Zafar Ahmed Khan said more than 2.5 lakh Bangladeshis received the consular services.
Earlier, talking about the slow pace of sending workers to Kuala Lumpur, the minister said, “Malaysia has halted recruiting from Bangladesh as the newly elected government there is yet to hold discussions with Bangladesh in this regard.”
Starting from April 25 this year, a total of 10,000 workers were scheduled to go to Malaysia in first phase but only 198 workers had been recruited.
http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/take-advantage-of-saudi-amnesty/
