By A Saleh

KUWAIT: The Interior Ministry began Wednesday receiving residency law violators in a process that will continue until the end of the month. A large number of people showed up at two schools in Farwaniya on the first day, which the ministry had allocated for Philippine nationals, seeking to take advantage of the amnesty through which they are allowed to leave to their home country without having to pay any penalties.

"We seek to offer all assistance to facilitate departure of residency law violators," Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anas Al-Saleh said during a tour to oversee the first day of operations. He added that requested lists of names of violators' sponsors, including individuals and companies, and ordered an investigation to identify visa traders and hold them accountable.

On the possibility that the government might lock down areas highly populated with expatriate communities after a number of coronavirus-positive cases appeared among workers that remain under investigation, minister Saleh noted that the health minister has authority to isolate areas in case a coronavirus spread was detected there. This includes areas highly populated with Kuwaitis or expatriates, the minister explained.

Minister of Social Affairs and State Minister for Economic Affairs Mariam Al-Aqeel, who accompanied Saleh in the tour, said meanwhile that 750 Filipino nationals came forward to leave during the first day of the grace period given for violators. "Two airplanes are ready to evacuate the first batch of Philippine labor within days," she added.

Meanwhile, Head of the evacuation task force Major General Abdeen Abdeen said the departure is not limited to residency violators, adding that any expatriate who wishes to leave the country can come forward to concerned authorities in the predetermined locations. He said that there are 12 schools designated to lodge those leaving; six for men and six for women, with two schools in each governorate.

The Interior Ministry had issued an amnesty decision allowing residency violators to leave the country without paying any fines or airfare with a chance to return to Kuwait later. This amnesty was issued in view of the circumstances the country is currently going through and as part of the precautionary measures taken to fight COVID-19, especially since fines had been accumulating against violators.

Violators are received from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm according to the following dates and nationalities: Philippines (April 1-5, 2020), Egypt (April 6-10), India (April 11-15), Bangladesh (April 16-20), Sri Lanka (April 21-25), other nationalities (April 26-30, 2020).

Individuals desiring to procure valid residencies in Kuwait and are willing to pay the fines without being subjected to investigations will be allowed to pay the fines and legalize their status if they meet the required conditions.