Oman evacuates illegal foreign workers

Oman is giving illegal foreign workers three months in the country to legalize their conditions or leave the country a written decision circulated by the Omani Ministry of Labor on Wednesday said.

Those who violate the rule will be fined $129 US and sentenced to at least three months in prison.

Oman accommodates 613,000 foreigners. Recent official statistics released May 1997 said that some 489,481 foreign workers are recruited by the Omani private sector, compared to 33,000 Omani citizens.

Other GCC member states have instituted similar programs to address the problem of illegal expatriate workers. The six Gulf Cooperation Council states set up a special committee in August, 1997 to draw up guidelines for a new worker strategy.