General amnesty considered for overstaying Sri Lankan migrant workers in Kuwait

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait says that the Kuwait government is considering granting an amnesty for the overstaying foreigners to leave the country without punishment.

A large number of Sri Lankans are employed in Kuwait and thousands of them work while overstaying their visas. According to Kuwait officials there are Indian, Bangladeshi, Philippine, Ethiopian and Indonesian nationals overstaying in Kuwait and the amnesty will allow them to leave the country on their own within the grace period without being punished. Kuwait government is also considering granting visa for the persons qualified for employment in that country, Embassy sources say. However, the Embassy sources say that Kuwait government has not yet decided when the amnesty period will be effective.