Undocumented Indians Stranded In The Gulf Due To Overstaying Fine
Summary
Date Reported: 12 May 2020
Location: Oman
Companies
Muscat Bakery - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 400
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( 400 - India , Catering & food services , Gender not reported )Issues
Right to Food , Failing to renew visas , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Personal Health , Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: One worker who registered for repatriation was contacted his embassy who stated they cannot afford the overstaying fine; the company also refuses to pay the fine. The company response to the Resource Centre denied all allegations except that of delayed wages; they stated that 40 workers were waiting on 2-3 months salary.
Source type: News outlet
Undocumented Indians in the Arab Gulf countries will not benefit from the Vande Bharat Mission [Indian govt. repatriation programme] as they do not have money to clear their overstaying fines...
Oman had waived off overstaying fines for people whose visa had expired only after the third week of March...
Similar is the condition of undocumented workers in other Gulf countries, except in Kuwait and Bahrain where amnesty has been announced...
the UAE government extended the validity of all visas... that have expired after March 01, 2020...
“If Oman government declares an amnesty, then that would be the perfect way to deal with the situation,” [one] social worker said, adding that the Indian government should also expand the scope of Vande Bharat Mission to repatriate [overstaying] workers.