Asian diplomat says sponsors should returns documents to amnesty-seekers
Titus Filio
Contributor
The issuance of travel documents instead of returning passports to amnesty-seekers may open a market of “loose passports for illegal activities”, Asian diplomats fear.
Thousands of illegal workers, including those absconding from jobs, are expected to line up for amnesty which allows them to travel without taking their passports back.
“They can fly home on travel documents. But about about their passports? We are worried because many passports may still be valid and can be used in other illicit activities,” an Asian diplomat told the Tribune on the condition of anonymity. “It will be then another serious problem. We are not talking of one case but of hundreds, even thousands. Many sponsors cannot not be contacted or or simply just don’t want to return the passports back,” the diplomat said.
Asian diplomat says sponsors should returns documents to amnesty-seekers
Titus Filio
Contributor
The issuance of travel documents instead of returning passports to amnesty-seekers may open a market of “loose passports for illegal activities”, Asian diplomats fear.
Thousands of illegal workers, including those absconding from jobs, are expected to line up for amnesty which allows them to travel without taking their passports back.
“They can fly home on travel documents. But about about their passports? We are worried because many passports may still be valid and can be used in other illicit activities,” an Asian diplomat told the Tribune on the condition of anonymity. “It will be then another serious problem. We are not talking of one case but of hundreds, even thousands. Many sponsors cannot not be contacted or or simply just don’t want to return the passports back,” the diplomat said.
The amnesty continues till December.
The issue of passports surfaced during meetings between diplomats and government authorities supervising the amnesty.
Many sponsors keep their workers’ passports. When disputes arise, it is often difficult for workers to retrieve the passports.
Police or immigration authorities step in and ask sponsors to submit passports when workers are being sent back home for legal or other reasons.
Sponsors very often ignore embassies when the latter call on them to retrieve the passports of their nationals.
Under amnesty, a worker opting to go home can travel on “special travel order” or “travel document” being issued in lieu of his/her passport.
“We cannot discount the possibility of passports being used, tampered with, or sold,” the diplomat said.
Human rights organisations and embassies have asked the authorities time and again to ban sponsors from keeping their workers’ passports. But the practice continues.