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Amnesty’s final outcome to be declared today

ABU DHABI — The extended period of amnesty granted by the UAE government to violators of residency and labour rules finally ended yesterday.

The Ministry of Interior is likely to announce the final outcome of the amnesty programme at a Press conference today, Khaleej Times has learnt.

The Press briefing to be attended by officials from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour will tackle a number of topics related to the results of amnesty programme as well as pieces of legislation related to the entry and residence of foreigners in the country.

It will also review the repercussions and the negative impacts of illegal residency and the strict measures that will be taken against the violators of the law.

The conference will also discuss the role of the establishments and individuals in confronting the menace and ways of protection, Lt-General Saif Abdullah Al Shafar, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Interior, said in a statement yesterday.

“The decision taken by the Cabinet granting the violators of the law a grace period of three months to rectify their status or leave the country without being slapped with any financial fines, showed the humanitarian considerations and the appropriateness in dealing and addressing the phenomenon, which spread considerably over the past years due to the wrong practices, be it by the workers or some of the sponsors,” he said.

He warned that from now strict measures would be taken against violators in order to deter the offenders.

“Intensive crackdown will be launched against violators and infiltrators in the country and we will not hesitate to arrest and deport the violators after prosecution and penalties,” he said.

Meanwhile, Colonel Nasser Al Manhali, Director of Department of Naturalisation and Residency in Abu Dhabi, said the Ministry of Interior had, two weeks ago, conducted surprise inspections in search of violators of immigration rules.

“Many violators were detected. However, they were not arrested, but advised to take advantage of the amnesty,” he told Khaleej Times.

“Starting today, the situation will be different as naturalisation and residency departments all over the country will carry out extensive inspections to nab violators,” he added.