The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs has scotched rumours circulating on social media that the labour department at the ministry would remain open on Thursday (yesterday) and Friday (today) to process work visas and job transfer requests of illegal residents.
The rumour associated with an unidentified video showing crowds gathered in front of the ministry went viral on social media yesterday. There were also rumours that the Ministry of Interior has given ten days grace period for illegal residents to rectify their status and change employers.
“Rumours that have been circulating on social media that workers are given ten days to change their employers are not true,” the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs said on its official twitter account yesterday.
The ministry, however, clarified that change of employer is possible for those who have completed their job contract, apparently under the new residency law.
People seeking change of job can apply through the online service on the ministry’s website or by visiting its main office in the first floor of Al Huda Tower in Dafna.
The three-month amnesty for illegal workers announced by the Minister of Interior ended on December 1. The ministry has not announced any extension of the amnesty and it is not clear how many illegals have availed of the opportunity to leave the country without facing the legal consequences.
