Inspection Drive to Book Illegal Workers Continues

Doha, July 01 (QNA) - The Search and Follow up Department (SFD) here is continuing its inspection drive to find and book illegal and absconding workers as well as those who grant shelter to such people, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has said. The SFD has launched a crackdown on violators of the law that regulates entry and exit of expatriates. It is set to start legal procedures against them in order to end the menace of absconding and illegal workers, the MoI said. A total of 613 workers who violated the law have been detained in the second phase of inspection drive that started in the beginning of May and continued up to June 7. The SFD Director Colonel Nasser Mohammed Al Sayed said the drive that started with the cooperation of various concerned authorities last April will continue. Several maids have absconded from the homes of their sponsors, he said and added "those who entered Qatar illegally and those working for people than their official sponsors have been arrested during this period". "Many offenders who have given shelter to these absconding maids and those who employed them illegally on an hourly basis have also been booked," said Colonel Al Sayed. "All these are a clear violation of the residential Law No. 4/2009," he added. All procedures initiated by the Department are in accordance with legal procedures and all those have been detained would be tried legally. The drive would continue, Colonel Al Sayed said and requested the public to support this drive. They can call hotline telephone number 44469522 to report cases of violations of the residential law. (QNA)