Privately-employed foreign residents, who have exceeded their permitted stay in Kuwait beyond January 3, 2016, after going absent from work, will be allowed to settle their penalties or leave the country without paying a fine, the Interior Ministry said on Friday.

The decision was taken according to a "humanitarian initiative," which covers a further number of non-Kuwaiti violators of the residency law, read a ministry statement.

It will grant more "humanitarian incentives," namely the opportunity for violators who wish to remain in the country, to "amend their status" after the ministry sought the necessary approvals from its General Directorate of Investigation and the Public Authority of Manpower.

Applications are welcome for those wishing to settle their outstanding dues as of next week until April 22, providing employers drop their legal charges against the absent employee.

Those who fall under this category should initially visit the General Authority of Manpower's Department of Labor Relations in order to terminate the absence charges brought against them.

Afterwards, they should head to the Ministry of Interior's Residency Affairs Department in their relevant governorate to settle their fines.

The ministry went to urge those found in violation to grasp the opportunity granted by the initiative, and to do so with haste.