MUSCAT : Nearly 58,000 expats with expired work permits have registered to exit Oman permanently without paying any fines, a top official at Ministry of Labour said.

Salem Al Badi, Director General of Labour Welfare said the number of applicants could increase in the coming weeks. “Ministry of Labour has extended the grace period till March 31 provided these workers leave the country permanently and in the coming weeks we will see a rise in the applicants,” Al Badi said.

From November 15, 2020, since the start of the exit scheme, 57,487 people have registered. “12,378 people have already left the country,” Al Badi informed. “Those whose work permits have expired must make use of the facilities provided by the government and exit the country,” Al Badi added.