Expats caught by inspectors for violating the flexi work permit will be deported and blacklisted as part of stringent new rules.
The Labour Market Regulatory Authority(LMRA) since last month has stepped up its inspection campaign across the country to ensure flexi work permit holders do not indulge in professions they are not part of the deal.
The watchdog last month identified 1,170 expatriates for breaching regulations related to the special permit that allows foreign workers to sponsor themselves.
The scheme was launched in 2017 to tackle the problem of undocumented workers with more than 40,000 people signing up for it to date.
The LMRA said the special permit helped reduce the number of undocumented workers and further helped meet market needs.
“Those found in violation of the guidelines during the inspections will not be permitted to regularise their situation through a flexi work permit,” said LMRA communications director Hana Al Saffar.
“They will be left with no option but to be deported to their home country and further banned from re-entering the kingdom in the future.”
Control
She added the crackdown follows a Cabinet decision to tighten control on flexi work permit holders from registering heavy vehicles.
Ms Al Saffar explained that a special committee has been formed with a representative from different ministries to develop a set of criteria and professional standards for the practice of 20 professions that have been identified.
“Runaway workers cannot regularise their situation as they cannot obtain a flexi work permit or transfer to a new employer,” added Ms Al Safar.
The official said the LMRA is also working with the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry to rectify within six months the case of individuals who hold a flexi work permit and a Commercial Registration(CR).
They cannot hold both the permit and be an investor.
Flexi permit holders are not allowed to drive private taxis and heavy vehicles.
The permits are available for expatriates with expired or terminated visas, those who have not been paid salaries and have filed cases against their employers and expats whose workplace has a cancelled CR.
Those with travel bans or facing court cases are not eligible for the lifeline.
There are an estimated 55,000 illegal foreign workers in the country with a majority of them arriving from Bangladesh.
When the scheme was launched ‘non-regular workers’ were allowed to take up jobs on a temporary basis with an employer or an individual in all sectors except those that require professional licences such as nursing and engineering.
They are issued a permit for one or two years and during this period they can work with multiple sponsors.
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