The Kuwait government on Sunday started granting amnesty to illegal migrant workers living in the country. However, the general amnesty will be granted only after paying a fine up to Rs200,000.

The government announcement of providing partial amnesty for illegal migrants comes as a relief to undocumented foreign workers, including Nepalis.

Nepali Ambassador to Kuwait Yagya Bahadur Hamal said it was an opportunity for migrant workers to erase their bad record. He urged illegal migrant workers to take advantage from the scheme.

In a press meet, interior ministry official Adel Al-Hashas said an illegal worker should pay KD2 to 600 per day to get general amnesty. “If police arrest these workers, they will be deported from Kuwait forever,” he said. Those leaving the country on pardon would be able to return to it in future.

The ministry said as many as 3,781 illegal workers from several countries were caught by Kuwaiti authorities recently. Ambassador Hamal said some Nepali workers were among those held. “We will provide them with travel documents to return home,” he added.

An illegal migrant worker from Kapilvastu said the migrant Nepalis were not happy with the decision. “We cannot pay such a huge sum in fine,” she said.

There are an estimated 60,000 Nepalis working in Kuwait. Around 24,000 of them are housemaids.