Top Indian official in Saudi Arabia to help stranded workers

Making a suo motu statement in Parliament, Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj told members about India’s diplomatic victory and said Saudi Arabia had also agreed to provide free medical facility and food to the Indian workers stranded in the camps.

Diplomatic sources working on the ground told The Hindu that the west Asian nation’s support had made “visible changes” on the ground.

“Yesterday, we contracted all the providers to provide health, catering, maintenance and everything, and we contracted the airlines to send back anybody who wants to go there upon the approval of the Embassy of India”, Haqbani said, according to a text of the remarks provided by his ministry.

Around 8,520 Pakistani migrant workers employed by two Saudi companies Saad Trading and Contracting Company in Al Khobar and the Saudi Oger limited in Dammam have not been paid nor have received their end-of-service benefits for at least two months with resident permits of many workers not renewed by the firms.

Singh, said he had a “very good meeting” with Saudi Labour Minister Mufarrej al-Haqbani during which they discussed the plight of the workers.

Other foreign governments, including France, the Philippines and Bangladesh, have been pressing Saudi authorities and company executives to ensure that construction firms pay their workers.

“We request that some Indian officials immediately come here and see for themselves what the conditions are”. The Indian mission has provided food to Indians who could not afford it.

The construction sector in Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf has been hard-hit by a drop in global oil prices, which has slowed down government spending on major infrastructure projects. “The Saudi king has issued a decree for urgent payment of dues to the workers by Saudi Oger Company and resolve the situation”, the Foreign Office said.

Meanwhile, the official Saudi Press Agency reported that the Saudi government has issued orders to let Indian workers find other employers and to allow them to get new visas.

The Saudi Arabian government had directed the major companies concerned to provide dues and arrears to stranded Pakistanis, he said talking to a private news channel.

Singh left for Jeddah tonight and MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said his on-the-ground assessment will determine the future course of action.

The governments of Lebanon, the Philippines and Pakistan have also been in talks with Saudi officials concerning similar problems facing their citizens. Ms Swaraj thanked Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz for resolving the issue.

They were provided a proforma on which the requisite information is to be submitted to the embassy. Necessary action is in hand by the embassy of India to prepare suitable lists for filing claims as well as for people to go back.