EIGHT expatriate workers were yesterday arrested during a crackdown on illegal street vendors.

The arrest came after the launch of a new campaign organised by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and the Northern Governorate to remove illegal vendors off the street.

The men were arrested on the Budaiya Road and in Hamad Town, a day after the LMRA inspection team made its first rounds on Sunday.

The team also confiscated the goods the expatriates were selling, said LMRA legal affairs deputy chief executive Younis Al Harmi.

“The inspectors also filed a report on the violations prior to taking legal action,” he added.

“Most of the violators are runaway expatriates who have already been reported to police for violating the work permit terms.”

Mr Al Harmi also explained that the joint inspection team would perform daily inspections in various neighbourhoods and streets in the Northern Governorate during the coming weeks.

The LMRA will also co-ordinate with other governorates to carry out similar inspections in order to prevent vendors, who don’t have proper working permits, from selling goods on the streets.