In a new development that predicts a breakthrough regarding the “sixty expatriates” file, informed sources revealed to “Al-Rai” that the Fatwa and Legislation Department confirmed the legality of the decision of the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Manpower to impose a fee of 500 dinars on renewing work permits for expatriates over sixty years who hold secondary certificatesor or below.
The sources indicated that the Fatwa Authority responded orally to the inquiry that it received in this regard recently, pending an official decision to this effect, indicating that the opinion that the authority concluded was based on the fact that the work permit renewal fee is actually applied, and the new development in the “manpower” decision is increasing this fee to 500 dinars and not introducing it.
The sources indicated that the Fatwa Board’s decision is expected to also include its opinion regarding the exclusion of some communities and groups from paying work permit renewal fees, in an effort to secure the decision from any legal weakness that may affect its safety.
On a related level, the sources revealed that the open discussions between insurance companies and “trade” officials regarding the value of the private insurance policy that the “sixty expatriates” will have to issue, indicate a close agreement with local companies to issue documents for this segment with a value ranging between 500 and 550 dinars per year. The cost of issuing a work permit, including fees and insurance for expatriates, is expected to be thousand dinars or a little more.
They pointed out that the final touches are being put to the draft of the appropriate document for the “sixty expatriates” in terms of the insurance requirements it covers