UAE offers ‘visa amnesty’ for migrant workers

The United Arab Emirates, a major hub for migrant laborers, on Wednesday began an amnesty for workers who entered the country without a visa or overstayed their work permit.

The UAE, the fourth largest oil producer in the OPEC oil cartel, is home to a huge workforce from Asia and Africa.

The government isn’t releasing specific numbers, but said it expects “thousands” of people, primarily labourers from countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and the Philippines, to take advantage of the amnesty through the end of October, reports AP.

The government said those who entered the UAE illegally or overstayed their visas and who come forward by October 31 would not be fined or charged if they choose to leave the country voluntarily. This was a huge opportunity for the Bangladeshis who had been undocumented for months or years and could not return home or regularise their immigration status.

The amnesty also grants those looking for employment a six-month visa to find a job.

Under the programme, all fines for overstaying visas will be forgiven and people will be allowed to return to the UAE with new visas without preconditions — a nod to the country’s need for foreign workers.

“It’s a gift from the government of the UAE as a humanitarian gesture,” Al Marri – the director of Dubai’s office for residency and foreigner affairs said.

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