KUWAIT CITY, June 25: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor has allowed expatriate workers whose companies’ files have been put under ‘code 71’ (closed) to transfer to another sponsor until the end of August, reports Al-Seyassah daily quoting sources.

Sources said the ministry believes the workers should not suffer the consequences of the violations committed by their companies. They called on these expatriates to avail of the grace period to rectify their status. They explained the ministry has put in place a certain mechanism for the expatriate workers under ‘code 71’ to transfer to another sponsor provided they obtain permission from the previous sponsor.

In case the previous sponsor is not available, the transfer form must be referred to the Labor Disputes Committee at the Labor Relations Department to take the necessary decision. Once the committee approves the application, it will be referred to the Central Labor Inspection Department in Dajeej.

Meanwhile, sources disclosed the ministry is currently experiencing difficulties in determining the actual number of marginal workers in the country, because files of most of the companies that hired these workers have been closed.