At least 140 Filipinos have availed of an amnesty given by the Oman government to suspected illegal foreign expatriates. A report in Khaleej Times said the 140 Filipinos were among 25,000 expatriates who took advantage of the government amnesty. Khaleej Times reported that there are around 100,000 suspected illegal foreign expatriates in Oman but majority did not take advantage of the amnesty despite warnings of stringent penalties including imprisonment and fines. “Figures released by various embassies in Muscat show some 25,000 people have chosen to benefit from the pardon, including about 14,000 Indians, 3,400 Pakistanis and 140 Filipinos,” the report said. The Oman government's amnesty period that ended last Saturday allowed overstaying foreign workers to regularize their status or leave the country without paying fines. Authorities will now intensify inspection campaigns to detain those who continue to live without proper papers. Illegal residents as well as companies who employ them would be penalized.
