Despite extensive efforts of the Nepal embassy in Saudi, a significant number of Nepali undocumented workers could not be benefited from the scheme. [break]
The Saudi government has already announced that those who deprive from the amnesty could be fined or even jailed.
A few months ago, Nepalese ambassador to Saudi, Udaya Raj Pandey had announced that around 35,000 Nepalese migrant workers were granted amnesty by the Saudi government.
"Rest of the Nepalese workers, who could not take advantage of the amnesty will be returned home in the near future. We will be consulting with the Saudi government for their repatriation," ambassador Pandey told Republica Correspondent Mahesh Shrestha in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
He further added that Nepalese workers who could not take advantage of amnesty due to lack of proper official documents, the Saudi government will give a better option for their easy repatriation to Nepal. However, Pandey did not explain what sorts of options would be arranged by the Saudi government for those illegal workers.
According to ambassador Pandey, 35,000 Nepalese migrant workers, who were granted amnesty in the past seven months, would not be permitted to enter Saudi Arabia for the next five years.
Similarly, talking to Republica Online over the phone from Saudi, Deputy Chief of Mission at Nepal embassy, Harischandra Ghimire said that the embassy issued travel documents approximately 35,000 Nepalese illegal workers, who have been returned home.
However, the Nepal embassy in Saudi Arabia does not have exact data in regard to numbers of Nepalese workers granted amnesty during the past seven months.
The Arab News has reported that Asian and African diplomats including Nepalese ambassador to Saudi Pandey had strongly urged the government to extend the grace period.
"The Philippines, Pakistan and Indonesia have renewed calls for extension of the deadline. These countries have sent a note verbal to the Foreign Ministry. Pakistani Ambassador Mohammed Naeem Khan, Sudanese Ambassador Abdel Hafiz Ibrahim, Indian Charge d’Affaires Sibi George, Sri Lankan Ambassador V. Krishnamoorthy, Nepali Ambassador Udaya Raj Pandey," Arab News reported recently. Despite requests of the foreign diplomats, Saudi Arabia has not extended the grace period.
Nepali workers become illegal in the Saudi mainly due to the change of employer and visa overstay, among others. Talking to AFP, Saudi labour ministry has said there will be no second chance, despite appeals from some Asian governments.“We have absolutely no intention of prolonging the amnesty,” said ministry spokesman Hattab al-Anzi.
The Saudi immigration department said that more than 900,000 people have left the country with final exit visas.According to the AFP, nearly a million Nepalese, Bangladeshis, Filipinos, Indians, Pakistanis and Yemenis, among others, had taken advantage of the initial three-month amnesty and left Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi government announced amnesty on April 3 and later on extended for four months as requested by the concerned countries. Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, is considered as one of the favored-destination for the migrant workers from Asia and elsewhere in the Arab world, who find work as common labourers, drivers, porters and house maids.
"Expatriates account for around 9mn of the country’s 27mn population. Saudi Arabia has the Arab world’s largest economy, but the unemployment rate among natives is above 12.5%," AFP reported.
(With inputs from the Agence France Presse)
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