3,500 Indians to be deported from Oman

Dubai, Jun 10 (UNI) Oman is to deport about 3,500 Indian workers who are overstaying in the country illegally without proper resident permits.

The Ministry of Manpower, Oman which published in the Arabic newspaper Al Shabiba, a list of 3,497 Indian workers said it has received several complaints from Indians working under different sponsors, stating that they are not being paid their salaries, and that their labour cards had not been renewed by their sponsors to legalise their stay in Oman.

''The Ministry of Manpower plans to repatriate workers without valid resident permits or travel documents, and request the sponsors and establishments (whose details are published in the newspaper) to contact the joint inspection team of the ministry in Ruwi, or the labour offices in various regions for further necessary action,'' a source in the ministry was quoted by the Times of Oman daily as saying.

Anil Wadhwa, Indian ambassador to the Sultanate, said last week the Omani government had agreed to allow overstaying Indians to return to India without paying any fine.

''Two lists, one with 5,541 names of people with employment visa, and another with 2,603 names of people who had come on visit visa, have been submitted to the government, seeking permission for their repatriation,'' he said.

UNI XC PD GC1447