REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, RIYADH - Diplomats from Asian countries urged government of Saudi Arabia to extend the amnesty for migrant workers from the expiry time on July 3, 2013. The diplomats are from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and the Philippines.
"At least, there are two million foreign workers in Saudi Arabia. According to reports, around 500 thousand foreign workers are correcting their status. This is not a simple process because involves lots of workers. The grace period is not enough to improve their status," an economist, Ihsan Buhulaiga said on Monday.
Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Dipu Moni is scheduled to arrive in Riyadh on June 19 to ask the same. Referring to the workload at Indonesian missions in Jeddah and Riyadh, Indonesian Ambassador Gatot Abdullah Manysur also asked for an extension. He suggests the allocation of a month or certain period after a hajj pilgrimage.
Currently, there are 1.2 million Indonesian workers in Saudi Arabia. About 600 thousand of them are in Jeddah and 30 percent of their passports or visas have expired.
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