Around 30,000 illegal Bangladeshi migrant workers in Saudi Arabia are yet to be legalised.
“It is very difficult to give an accurate figure. We can assume that about 30,000 Bangladeshi migrants are yet to get legal status,” Bangladeshi Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Md. Shahidul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune over phone on Tuesday.
The council of ministers of Saudi government on Monday reiterated that no leniency would be shown towards foreigners who overstay in the Kingdom in violation of the residency (Iqama) and labour laws, after expiry of the extended amnesty period, local daily Saudi Gazette reported on Tuesday.
The Saudi cabinet reminded all illegal expatriates to take advantage of the extended grace period to legalise themselves.
The ambassador claimed that about 700,000 Bangladeshi illegal migrants, had already benefited from amnesty declared by the country.
“We are launching a massive campaign so that the rest of the migrant workers also utilise the opportunity,” Shahidul Islam said.
He said the Saudi government would never give such a chance again.
Arab News reported that the cabinet meeting, chaired by Crown Prince Salman, also deputy premier and minister of defence, had warned that punishment would be imposed on illegal workers and their employers as per law, soon after the end of the amnesty.
“The punishment will be applied strictly and the government will not show any leniency,” Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said after the cabinet meeting at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah.
The Saudi ministries of interior and labour have repeatedly urged illegal expatriate workers to legalise their residency and labour status during the current amnesty period.
The royal decree extending the amnesty cited requests by various foreign embassies, complaining of pressure on their missions from the large numbers of workers seeking to correct their status.
Countries with large numbers of undocumented workers include India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Egypt, Nepal and Yemen.
Embassies of these countries have been making commendable efforts to help their nationals correct their status.
