No let-up in Oman drive against illegal residents

Muscat: The crackdown against illegal residents in Oman is continuing with the Manpower Ministry, acting in coordination with the Royal Oman Police (ROP), arresting 282 expatriate workers last week for violating the country’s residency laws.

An inspection team from the ministry carried out raids in locations across the country in a concerted effort to force all illegal residents to return to their home countries. “About 208 workers were caught from various commercial organisations for working without valid papers,” a spokesperson for the Manpower Ministry said.

The official said that 30 of those arrested were found to be working in the agriculture sector while 44 were housemaids. Out of the 282 illegal residents, 146 had run away from their original sponsors while 79 had been laid off from their jobs but continued to work for other employers. “About 57 had no documents on them when they were caught,” he said, adding that Muscat accounted for the highest number of illegal residents at 105, followed by 94 in South Batinah area.

Meanwhile, the ministry deported 220 expatriates back to their home countries for violating labour Laws.

In 2010, the government had given an opportunity to overstaying expatriates as well as illegal residents to leave Oman without paying fines. A large number of workers, mostly from Asian countries, availed of the offer and left Oman but a very big number chose to stay back without proper papers, prompting the government’s crackdown.