With reference to Department of Immigration and Emigration (DoIE) public notice no, (IUL) 94-A/94/2012/39 (26 November 2012) it is brought to the notice of all that withholding of passports of expatriate workers is an offence.  Under Para-4 of the above Notice, it has instructed that passports of expatriate workers should not be held under any circumstance by anyone other than the bearer of the passport, except on request of the bearer for safe keeping.  

In view of the above notice, legal action will be taken against violators in accordance with the Immigration Act 1/2007. Where DoIE is notified of any such violations assistance will be provided to re-locate the passports.