Ministries cooperate over visas

Workers will have their labour cards and residence visas cancelled at the same time, according to a decision of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

The two ministries are cooperating with each other to make sure that ministerial Decree number 30 for 2001 concerning transfer of sponsorship and the six-month ban for workers cancelling their residency visas, is strictly implemented.

According to a ministry of labour source some workers are still cancelling their labour cards but not their residence visas to prolong their stay in the country despite warnings from the ministry.

"Representatives from the General Directorate of Naturalisation and Residency (GDNR) were stationed at the labour ministry to cancel workers' residence visas. Despite these measures some workers do not head to the GDNR representatives immediately and delay the process.

"These procedures will make it easier for workers to have their papers processed quickly. It also reduces the GDNR's work load. Ministry officials are prevented from issuing a new labour card without cancelling their original residency visa."

The GDNR has started putting a six-month ban stamp for all workers whose residency visas are cancelled, without any exemptions except for government and ministry employees.

A GDNR source said: "Though we have received many requests from workers asking to be exempted from the ban, the directorate has decided to strictly follow the ministerial law."