DHAKA: Inspectors will not check private homes to look for foreigners staying illegally in Saudi Arabia, the labour ministry has said.

According to an official statement, only companies and establishments registered for commercial activities will be inspected in the campaigns to be launched by the ministry following the expiry on Sunday of the grace period given to illegal foreigners to regularise their status in the Saudi kingdom.

The ministry warned Saudis and residents not to allow imposters pretending to conduct a search on behalf of the labour authorities into their homes.

‘The labour ministry will deal solely with the inspections to ensure full compliance with the employment rules and regulations while the interior ministry will check compliance with residence rules,’ the statement said, quoted by local Arabic daily Okaz, reports gulfnews.com.

Saudi Arabia has given all foreigners until November 3 to make sure they have the proper documents to work or stay in the country.

Several foreigners who have overstayed their residence permits or who had been sneaked into the kingdom have been affected by the decision.

BDST: 1831 HRS, NOV 03, 2013
RoR/JCK