Kuwait Govt announces amnesty for Indian workers

Thousands of Indian workers who were forced to illegally extend their stay in Kuwait have got some relief after the Kuwaiti government on Tuesday announced that no penalty would be imposed on them.

The amnesty has been granted from January 29 to February 22.The workers, who were struggling with the non-payment of salaries had overstayed by several months and could not afford to pay the penalty.

The penalty for overstaying in Kuwait is two Kuwaiti Dinars, i.e. Rs 424, per day. 

This decision has come in the wake of Union minister of state for external affairs VK Singh's recent visit to the country. The Minister took up the issue of the unpaid workers in the Kharafi National Company and urged a Kuwaiti minister to waive the penalty for those who wanted to return to India.

The amnesty also indicates that the workers can return to Kuwait legally to take up jobs.