After the recent crackdown on illegal workers and the king’s announcement of a three-month grace period for transferring iqamas, worried expatriates of different nationalities have been gathering at their consulates seeking help.
Many Saudi companies and offices have already revoked all free visas. Some workers see no possibility of obtaining a legal visa or directly working for their sponsor. They want to go back home as soon as possible because they don’t have a home or food to eat.
More than 6,000 Sri Lankans have already registered themselves at their consulate for deportation.
“We already registered 5,000 men and 1,000 women at the consulate and we are arranging their papers to let them go home. This will take some time, as the deportation centers are full,” said Sri Lankan Consul General Atham Bawa Uthuma Lebbe.
The consul general asked expatriates intending to go home against assembling in large groups at public places as this is against the Saudi law.
One stranded Sri Lankan worker said he is a worried man. “For the past 15 days, we have been coming to the consulate. They told us to register and wait, but where we will go? Our sponsors have not paid us and we don’t have any work. After this crackdown and during this three-month grace period, no one is going to allow us to work for them,” said Mohammed Najeeb.
He also said more than 800 men and women are converging at the Kandara bridge in the hope of going back home.
Illegal workers find the going tough
