DHAKA: Thousands of illegal foreigners, mostly unskilled workers from Asia, are rushing to leave Saudi Arabia before an amnesty expires on Sunday as they risk being fined or even jailed.

Nearly a million Bangladeshis, Filipinos, Indians, Nepalis, Pakistanis and Yemenis, among others, have taken advantage of the three-month amnesty, announced on April 3 and then extended for four months, and left the country.

Another roughly four million have legalised their situation by finding employers to sponsor them, a must to reside in most Gulf monarchies.

But the clock is ticking, and the Saudi labour ministry has said there will be no second chance, despite appeals from some Asian governments.

‘We have absolutely no intention of prolonging the amnesty,’ said ministry spokesman Hattab Al Anzi, reports gulfnews.com.

BDST: 1728 HRS, NOV 02, 2013
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