Indian Workers Living Unpaid In Suadi Arab

Over 1,000 Indian workers are stuck in Saudi Arabia’s Oil company, Saad Group Saudi Arab Al Khobar from November last year without getting paid a single penny. For the last three months, the company has stopped paying money even for their meals. On 17 May, the workers filed a complaint at Indian Embassy in Riyadh with Help Id SB2RPT100836416. On 27 June, their family members also went to meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at her office to share their problems. She said that action would be taken after Eid holidays will be over. But four months have passed, and yet nothing has been taken care of. The employees have appealed to the labour court for their salaries, but the case is still pending.

While speaking to The Logical Indian, one of their representatives said, “The embassy had told us that cases of service benefit take 5 to 6 months. The case, which was filed on July 26, has not been taken up by the labour court yet. Embassy personnel had also told us that those who want emergency exit, must make a list of their names and can leave the place after giving the power of attorney to the embassy. Accordingly, a list was sent on July 26 with all our signatures, but no hope has reached till now.”

The employees don’t have any money to fend themselves. They stay hungry most of the times; even they don’t have any healthcare facilities. Their families back in India are barely managing to make their both ends meet. Their children have been suspended from schools. People from Bangladesh and Pakistan have been offered 200 Saudi Riyal from their embassies. Even Rs 50,000 have been given to their families, but no such steps have been taken on India’s behalf.

MEA Sushma Swaraj, on 23 August, tweeted that embassy has started the exit procedure of all Indian workers of Saad group and the entire procedure will be completed by September 25. Ten days have passed in october and no one from the 1,000 employees has been brought back to India. The employees want to go back their home desperately and support their family, but that there is apathy of the government.

The Logical Indian urges the Ministry of External Affairs, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh & MEA Sushma Swaraj to take immediate action so that these workers can be brought back.