Illegal workers at Muscat airport removed

Social media users criticise their employment and call for stricter regulation

The fate of more than 1,000 men working on construction projects at Muscat International Airport was unknown yesterday.

Witnesses told Gulf News the workers who held visas for other job titles were removed from the site.

A source in the government told Gulf News some of the detained workers were released, but did not disclose whether they were fined.

The illegal workers held visas for jobs in restaurants, barber shops, tailor’s shops and as housemaids and camel keepers.

The news of the illegals working at the airport quickly went viral on social media, with users calling for harsh penalties for violators.

Salim Al Badi, Director-General of Labour Welfare at the Ministry of Manpower, says it is the responsibility of employers to check the status of their workers with the Manpower Ministry and the Royal Oman Police.

Increasing violations of the labour law have led to intensified monitoring of company hiring.

More stringent action will be implemented, including heavy fines, deportation and possible lifetime bans from entering the country.

For companies, the minimum fine for violating the labour law is 2,000 riyals (Dh19,076) while individual employers face fines of up to 1,000 riyals.

Moreover, companies that hire illegal workers will be banned from obtaining visas for foreign workers for up to a year.

More than 1,580 illegal foreign workers have applied for an amnesty to leave the country without being penalised.