The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has warned against illegal visa trading and harbouring absconding workers. The Ministry stated that whoever violates these measures will be liable to imprisonment for up to three years.
The MoI, through the Search and Follow-up Department, disclosed this yesterday in a webinar attended by more than 300 people from several administrative affairs and human resources managers, government relations officials, and delegates from private companies and institutions. The webinar was organised in collaboration with the Public Relations Department of the MoI.
“Perpetrators face imprisonment up to three years maximum and/or a fine of up to QR50,000 for first-time offence, and QR100,000 in case of repetition,” First Lt. Ahmed Abdullah Salem Ghurab Al Marri, at the Follow-up and Technical Office at the Department said about the illegal visa trading.
He also revealed that a new office would be opened soon at Hamad International Airport, affiliated with the Search and Follow-up Department, to enable the completion of transactions, especially those related to complaints against absconded workers and others.
“There is a link with the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs in the event of reporting an absconded, as the company will not need to transfer salary to him, and the Ministry of Labor will not suspend the company services. The Search and Follow-up Department will directly notify the Ministry of Labor about this. This service was not there before,” First Lt. Al Marri added.
The Ministry also advised employers to hand over the passports of their employees after issuing their residency permits.
“The punishment for employer’s failure to hand over the passport to the employee after completing the procedures for getting or renewing residence permit is a fine up to QR25,000,” First Lt. Al Marri said.
Concerning services provided to the public from the Department, he said they include recording reports of leaving work, violation of the purpose of the visa, disclaimer and lodging complaints, and transactions related to the functions of the Department.
In another webinar held yesterday, services, work procedures, and jurisdiction of the Criminal Evidence and Information Department were presented for the representatives of various private companies.
Lt. Abdul Azeez Saleh Al Rashedi, Head of Studies and Technical Researches Section of the Department said that the Department’s sections would start working in the evening after Eid Al Adha to provide services to citizens noting that since the coronavirus pandemic, the Department works only in the morning.
The department services include issuing certificate of good conduct and documenting criminal information automatically.
