Long, agonizing process awaits amnesty applicants in Al-Ahsa

Thousands of Asian expatriates working in the Oasis town of Al-Ahsa may have been delighted initially with the announcement of amnesty for illegal workers, but the process of getting their job status rectified or seeking an exit from the Kingdom has been anything but agonizing and torturous.
Delayed commencement of the biometric recording (second week of July) at the deportation centers, staff shortage at both the center and Passport Office and the scorching summer sun touching 46 degrees centigrade have only added to the woes of these hapless expatriates, mainly hailing from India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Al-Ahsa is known for its fertile lands and abundant irrigational facilities, not to speak of quality dates, and this had attracted expatriates in the thousands to work in the agriculture sector. Following the amnesty, they have been desperately trying to avail of the concessions and landing up at the deportation centers every morning only to be told that they would have to return again.
The expats can be seen gathering from the early hours every day at the gates of the newly-shifted deportation center on Airport Road along the Riyadh Highway. The center is located at quite some distance from the main city center of Al-Ahsa and with no waiting area in the premises or in the vicinity, they have been sweating it out in the open.
On seeing their plight, Naser Madani, a prominent social worker along with some people has been disturbing water and juice to the expats every day.
Initially, at least a thousand applicants used to throng the deportation center every day but with the center only allowing 75 persons after issuing them tokens, the numbers have now dropped to 500. According to sources, the center was allowing only candidates till three days ago but had increased the number following the heavy rush.
Most of the workers are from India, Bangladesh and Nepal who have been working in the agriculture fields and palm plantations. They now want to return to their home countries. Hundreds of absconding workers from a maintenance company are also making the rounds of the deportation center seeking exit, sources told Arab News.
The sources also pointed out unlike deportation centers in other cities, in Al-Ahsa, officials were completing all procedures including final exit within a day and handing over travel documents to applicants, which is commendable.
However, staff shortage at the deportation center and also in Passport office has been a major cause of concern for the illegal workers. According to sources in Al-Ahsa, the Passport Office has been handling about 300 cases per day including Saudis going on vacation and expatriates seeking correction of job status.
The Labor Office in neighboring Dammam is doing fairly well but in Al-Ahsa, the wait has been agonizing. In fact, some Saudi employers who approached the Labor Office for correction of job status of their employees were so miffed by the delay that they virtually laid siege to the office of the Director, Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Saleh, for a few hours before he was finally escorted out.