The ministry is continuing to receive fresh applications and has urged those illegally residing in the country to take advantage of the amnesty which after a three-month extension expires on October 28.

Of the 18484 13000 have already left the country and the process to deport the remaining 5484 is on' said Salim bin Said al Badi director general of labour welfare at MoM.

Badi said 'The ministry's plan is to enable maximum number of Labour Law offenders to avail the amnesty and hence the period has been extended by three more months.'

He said the number of applicants is rising and that the ministry is coordinating with concerned authorities to speed up the process. The initial amnesty period announced was from May 3 to July 30.

'The decision to extend the deadline has been revised so that more people can avail it' he said.