|
5-year closure for firms in visa deals |
|
Thursday, 05 January 2012 11:11 |
|
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor has announced that business owners who trade in residence permits in the name of fictitious companies will have their files suspended for five years, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
The ministry Undersecretary Mohammed Al-Kandari said, “If the ministry’s general inspection administration suspends a company under Code 71, this means the business owner does not have an actual commercial enterprise.” This can happen when business owners import laborers and allow them to work for others in violation of the country’s labor laws. These business owners are labeled human traffickers who have harmed the image of Kuwait overseas, said Al-Kandari.
The ministry has said the violating business owners will have to bear the expenses of repatriating the laborers to their countries. In addition their business file at the ministry will be closed for five years. After this period, the affected business owners will have to apply to the ministry to lift the suspension, and the ministry will then have the right to either approve or reject the application, explained Al-Kandari. If the ministry approves the application the business owners will have to deposit KD 250 insurance fee for each registered employee. This money will be kept for one year and the owners will not be allowed to withdraw it until inspection of the commercial enterprise is carried out to ensure compliance with regulations especially the existence of actual work and payment of salaries.
|
