MANAMA: A crackdown on foreigners whose work permits expired over a month ago will be launched on Sunday.

More than 40,000 expatriates face tough penalties for failing to regularise their situation, Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi warned.

They and their families should report immediately to the Interior Ministry to cancel their residence permits and leave of their own accord, he said as he chaired the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) board meeting.

Should they comply, they stand a good chance to be allowed re-entry under the new LMRA procedures, providing their legal record is clean, said Dr Al Alawi.

Should they fail to respond to the LMRA call, they will be deported once arrested, without any chance of re-entry.