A.SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
The much-awaited relief for overstaying expats has finally come with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) announcing a policy to waive fines and other penalties for people with expired documents.
The government drive will begin on September 1 and will continue for two months, said a statement from the ICP on Thursday.
Undocumented expatriates are expected to either rectify their legal status or leave the country honourably without fines during the two-month grace period.
"This initiative aims to provide violators with a new opportunity to regularise their status. It also reflects the UAE's values of compassion and tolerance," the ICP statement said.
This grace period, which is popularly known as "amnesty," is a one-time chance and a lifeline for thousands of expatriates who got stuck in the country due to a variety of situations and are unable to leave the country due to hefty fines and other punishments facing them.
G. Mahender, who is legally working in a small job in Abu Shagara area of Sharjah, said there are a good number of people from his native state of Telangana in India working as car washers and part-time domestic help in the area.
Though they have been earning their living by doing odd jobs for several years, their legal status is in limbo. Some of them, who spoke to Aletihad on condition of anonymity, said they have been waiting for this government policy for a long time and will rectify their legal status.
According to Mahender, some of these illegal workers do not have passports as "they were retained by their employer when they first came on a job visa to the UAE."
Now they have to begin the process by applying for travel documents from the Indian embassy.
"Some of the car-washers and odd job workers originally came on visit visas and stayed back to do various jobs. Their passports expired long back. It's a good chance for them," said Mahender, who has been watching his fellow workers in this illegal situation for a long time.
"Now they are keen to begin afresh and commence a new life either in the UAE or their native country."
The government "amnesty" policy, though stated as a one-off campaign, comes at periodic intervals.
The last policy was announced in 2017 when several thousands of undocumented workers availed the chance to leave for their native country with dignity.
The provincial governments of India arranged special flights to carry them home free of cost.
J. Srinivasa Rao, who is a social volunteer in Dubai, helped over a thousand undocumented people leave the country without much expense.
Rao, who is a veteran of various social activities, had taken the initiative to identify people who were in need of help and facilitated the process by coordinating with the UAE authorities and the Indian Consulate in Dubai in the previous rounds of the grace period in 2018 and 2013.
"The main hurdle for their honourable exit is the lack of travel documents - passport. This required a lot of groundwork and coordination with the Indian Consulate so that they will get the travel document to land in their country," Rao said recalling his experience in the previous round of "amnesty."
Rao and his team were instrumental in arranging a special flight from a South Indian provincial government to transport the workers to their home town of Hyderabad free of cost.
Appreciating the UAE government for the noble gesture, Rao said it is a golden chance for illegal workers to reclaim their life and destiny, which is otherwise in a legal limbo.
Rao, who is yet to commence his work for the latest round of "amnesty", said he is awaiting the detailed policy guidelines, which are likely to be spelt out by the UAE government in the coming weeks.
A lot of Indian NGOs are gearing up for work ahead as thousands of undocumented workers will need their help.
Ravi Chand, who is an entrepreneur from Bihar state of India and runs a career consultancy in Dubai, welcomed the UAE government move and said it is a good chance for illegal workers to rectify their status or leave the country without any penalties.
"We will do whatever is needed to help the stranded workers leave for their home country with dignity," Chand said.
The embassies and consulates of South Asian countries - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal - will get to work to help their stranded citizens with papers.
During the previous rounds of grace period, huge queues were witnessed at the embassies and the UAE offices dealing with grace period paperwork.