Over 5.3 M illegal workers correct statuses in Saudi

RIYADH (Xinhua) - More than 5.3 million illegal workers corrected their statuses in Saudi Arabia during the past five months, Al Hayat newspaper reported on Sunday.

Some 1.5 million of these workers changed their sponsors, 1.3 million changed their jobs and 2.5 million renewed their work permits, said Abdullah Abuthnain, deputy minister of inspections and developing work condition.

He added that foreign workers can now register their changes of job free of charge via the ministry's on-line services instead of through a visit its office.

The Labor Ministry plans to launch a crackdown against illegal workers when a seven-month amnesty ends on Nov. 3.