Tabuk’s labor office has doubled efforts to process paperwork ahead of today's deadline. With only five employees at the special committee for rectifying work status of expats, the office is struggling to complete procedures in time.

The committee works evenings and during the week, as well as on days off. It is expected that the pressure will mount in the few hours left to complete the piles of paperwork for undocumented workers.

The correction of workers’ residency and labor status will ensure that more than 30,000 workers will be able to live and work in the Kingdom legally.

Other tasks assigned to the committee include the electronic transfer of sponsorships.

The Passport Department in Tabuk is also witnessing huge crowds which have arrived to take advantage of the few hours left to legalize their status.

Yet there are still many regular residents and citizens visiting the passport office in person for other passport services instead of accessing Abshir, the online service launched by the Directorate of Passports.

Workers have complained about the lack of coordination among the committee, labor office and the expatriate department, which they said was delaying the correction process.

Even the offices that work as mediators between workers and government bodies witnessed chaotic scenes. They have demanded that an awareness campaign about the Abshir system be conducted since the start of the electronic system coincided with the correction period, resulting in all-round confusion.

“There should be a representative from each party in these committees and there should be enough members to cope with and ease the process,” one harassed mediator said.