Onus on expats to use four-month extension

The onus is now on illegal workers to use the four-month amnesty extension to sort out their documentation, according to Saudis and expatriates polled in Riyadh and Jeddah.
They said the government has done its part and that workers would only have themselves to blame if they do not meet the new deadline.
Illegal expatriates standing in long queues at their respective diplomatic missions expressed relief and thanked the Saudi authorities for the amnesty extension.
Muhammad Muzafar, a Pakistani worker, said: “We never imagined we would face such difficulties to correct our work status. The procedures entail many technicalities, including long waiting lines in front of the embassy in the soaring heat. We can now resume sorting out our paperwork, albeit under less stress and with sufficient time on our hands.”
Workers at the Indian Embassy said the extension gives them ample time to correct their status.
“This is a golden opportunity for us to rectify our status and avoid further hardship,” said one Indian worker.
Another worker, Sirajudeen Islam, standing in the queue at the Bangladesh consulate, expressed his joy at the decision and said he has time to search for a job and transfer his sponsorship. “We were very concerned about what would happen to us when the amnesty ended. This is a respite for us all. Our only hope now is that the labor department completes the formalities in a timely fashion,” he said.
Mohammed Qasim, a Saudi businessman, said the extension was welcomed across all segments of society.
“This is great news not only for me but for all businessmen, workers and all the people involved in this decision. We are thankful to our king and the Interior Ministry for this kind gesture,” he said.
Hailing the decision, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) coordinator Nousheen Ahmed, said the extension would provide them with the time required to coordinate with various consulates to resolve the outstanding problems.
“We can now focus on how to help the consulates and the labor departments overcome their problems. We have already had meetings with various diplomatic officials. To that extent, we are happy because we can exert efforts to help businessmen, consulates, the passport departments and labor offices,” she said.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also welcomed the announcement and said it would benefit everyone, and hoped the extension period would be used in the same spirit as it was granted.