Bangladeshi workers in UAE throng Consulate to legalise status

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Bangla Tribune Desk
Published : 21:42, Aug 14, 2018 | Updated : 21:47, Aug 14, 2018

Bangladeshi workers in UAE throng Consulate to legalise statusIllegal Bangladeshi expatriates in the UAE have been flocking to Bangladesh Consulates in thousands to legalise their status under the amnesty announced by the Emirates Administration.
After the UAE declared an amnesty period with generous options on the table, the Bangladeshi Consulate officials are having to work round the clock to support their countrymen willing to grab the opportunity, reports Gulf News,
The workers can now choose to either pay their penalties and avail a fresh chance to seek new jobs, or they can take a quick exit, in which case both countries are waiving fees wherever possible. Authorities and Airlines have been providing free or waived tickets.
“Last week we issued about 1,000 one-way travel permit and enrolled about 2,500 for new passports,” Gulf News quoted Bangladesh Consul General S Bodiruzzman.
The current amnesty period has generated hope among the Bangladeshi workers, who struggled after UAE imposed a visa freeze on Bangladeshi blue collar workers.
Over 600,000 Bangladesh expatriates live in the UAE, according to rough estimates by the Bangladesh mission.
Bodiruzzman added: “We have excellent working relationship with the UAE government and so far our nationals have been coming here on tourist and business visas which are open. We hope that this way our people in blue collar jobs will get a chance to regularise their status. We want that a majority of those paying the absconder penalty and getting fresh passports are able to find new jobs here. The UAE government is doing a great humanitarian service with this amnesty and we are determined to do our part.”
The consul general also said that their mission was trying to provide as many concessions to the amnesty seekers.
“Wherever possible, we are waving off penalties and also providing free air tickets to those with genuine financial constraints. Our prosperous expatriates are also cooperating in extending all kinds of logistic support to us in managing this operation,” said Bodiruzzman.
The UAE government announced its fifth amnesty to flush out all illegal expatriates. The amnesty which started on Aug 1 will end on Oct 31, 2018.
Under this operation all expatriates staying illegally in the country can report to the newest General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) centres with their papers and will get a clean chit to exit the country paying a basic fee of Dh220.
These include expatriates on employment visas who absconded from their jobs and overstayed and those who came on visit visas and over stayed, among other categories of people. Such people can use their valid passports or get outpasses to exit their country.
For those wishing to stay back can regularise their status by paying an additional fee of Dh520, get new passports issued from their missions. They can then approach the nearest Amer Typing Centres and get a six-month temporary visa which is the grace period being given to them to find new jobs and get fresh employment visas stamped on their passports.

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