The embassy cautioned the workers and immigration officials following the announcement of a new regulation by the Kuwait government which does not allow any other type of visa to be converted into work visa. The new Kuwait regulation comes into effect from August 1. [break]
According to Madhuban Poudel, Nepal´s ambassador to Kuwait, some unscrupulous manpower agencies have been sending Nepali workers to Kuwait on commercial and visit visas after failing to secure work visas. This means that such workers land in Kuwait without work permit.
Until now, the Nepali workers who reached Kuwait on other type of visas have somehow been able to acquire work visas, but it would not be possible from next month, according to Poudel.
Poudel says the manpower agents who send workers on other types of visas often get off the hook under the common pretext of not knowing Arabic language. The agents, when questioned by authorities, often say they could not properly distinguish the type of visa due to their inability to read Arabic letters.
Sending workers on visas other than work permit has leads to two major consequences. First, the workers who fail to convert their visas are sent back home, and second, some Nepali nationals who reach Kuwait genuinely for the purpose of visit or commerce often end up being harassed.
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