The crackdown on illegal migrants in Saudi Arabia has had a bearing on more than 100 skilled workers from Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts who have returned from the oil-rich country to avoid being hounded.
Caught in the complexities of visa renewal, the skilled labourers had turned illegal migrants due to expiry of their visa period and were forced to leave that country. The grace period for regularising their status ended on November 4, official sources said.
Saudi Arabia has undertaken a drive to deport illegal expatriates who have overstayed in the country after expiry of their working visas.
“The administration has received reports of return of migrant workers from Saudi Arabia. The matter is taken up with competent authorities to ascertain the number of workers from Kendrapada still left in Saudi Arabia without valid visas,” said Kendrapada Collector Niranjan Nayak.
“After announcement to drive away illegal expatriates, I left the country with the help of Indian Embassy at Riyadh (capital of Saudi Arabia). local Government had offered the foreign workers an amnesty period for those who overstayed. I left Arabia with a temporary visa issued by Indian Embassy before the period expired,” said Seikh Abdul Sayeed (29) of Haladia village in Kendrapada district.