Saudi Arabia has agreed to accept more applications from foreign workers who failed to legalise their status during the kingdom’s six-month amnesty, if they pay a fine.
Applicants could also face other penalties for missing the November 3 deadline.
“The correction process is continuing and those who want to legalise their status can do so through our electronic services and labour offices,” Labor Ministry director general of inspections Faisal Al Otaibi was quoted as saying in local media.
The ministry’s statement was widely welcomed by expatriates and private companies, with many affected by a sudden loss of employees who either fled the kingdom during the amnesty or have since gone into hiding to avoid raids aimed at picking up illegal workers.
About 16,000 people without legal documentation have been arrested in the past week, according to officials.
The crackdown has led to food price hikes, garbage piling up in some locations, numerous shop closures and some schools cancelling lessons due to a shortage of teachers.
An Ethiopian man died during a raid last week, while another man, believed to be Saudi, was killed during a violent protest in a poor area of Riyadh on Saturday night.
However, Al Otaibi said the raids would continue and no business would be exempt.
About 4m expatriates corrected their visa status and a further 1m left the kingdom during the amnesty.
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