By SOMAN BABY

EMPLOYERS have been rushing to get work permit applications into the Labour Ministry, before it hands responsibility to a new authority.

The last day for applications to issue or renew work permits for expatriates at the ministry is Sunday, said Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi.

“This is in preparation for the handing over of responsibility for issuing work visas to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority, starting on July 1,” he revealed.

“We will freeze the acceptance of applications from Monday until June 30, following which people have to submit applications to LMRA. We will process applications submitted until Sunday.”

Dr Al Alawi said work visas for maids and other domestic helpers would continue to be issued by his ministry.

A Labour Ministry spokesman said there had been a heavy rush from applicants. The ministry will try to clear all applications which meet its requirements before June 30, he added.

The ministry will not transfer any application which is not processed, to the LMRA, where the system of issuing work visas is different.

The ministry used to issue work permits for occupations, but with no specific names.

The employer would then get the visa processed at General Directorate of Nationality , Passports and Residence (GDNPR), by submitting the work permit and the passport details of the applicant.

The LMRA, however, is issuing work visas with the specific name of the applicant, said LMRA e-services and public relations manager Waheed Al Balushi.

“Employers who apply for a work visa must first submit the passport details, photographs and other documents to the LMRA,” he noted.

“If the application meets the LMRA criteria, it will be processed there in three days.

“It will take another two days at the Central Informatics Organisation for the allocation of the CPR number and another five days at the GDNPR for processing the residence visa.”