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Saudi’s Ministry of Labour has moved to calm the fears of an Indian delegation that its new Nitaqit employment initiative would not lead to the mass expulsion of workers from the Kingdom.
Members of Consulate General of India, Non-Resident Keralites Affairs had sought clarification from the government department as to the prospective employment law, aimed at promoting the job opportunities for Saudi citizens.
Last month, the Ministry announced that companies will be split into red, yellow and green categories depending on their level of employment of nationals. Companies that fall into the first two categories would be monitored for their attempts to employ a certain quota of locals. Permits of foreign workers in the red category companies would not be renewed after six years, irrespective of the years they have spent in the kingdom.
Companies in Saudi Arabia will have a three-month period to 7 September to achieve the prescribed quota.
Secretary T. K. Manoj Kumar and Indian Consul General Faiz Ahmad Kidwai visited the ministry as part of a tour of the GCC to gain an update as to the regulations and living conditions of the millions of workers from the sub-continent.
“Saudi officials recognise Indian expatriates as law abiding, sincere and honest workers,” he said, adding that he also visited the Briman jail in Jeddah to check on the welfare of 250 Indian expatriates are serving time for various crimes.
Meanwhile, Kidwai – the top diplomat at the Consulate General in Jeddah – said he has established an open house for Indian workers where they could lodge complaints and ask questions. Problems range from late payment to gaining help returning home.
“I want to encourage people to come forward with any of their problems. I am here to help them. This is an open house,” Arab News reported him as saying, adding that coming forward with issues is preferable from attempting to run away.
The Consulate General is also to launch a new online system for passports on 10 June, and also aims to educate workers as to their rights.
Worker strikes were reported on a construction site run by Saudi Oger, the contractor, as well as at facilities of Saudi Electricity Company over higher wages. Striking is illegal in Saudi Arabia as per a royal decree by King Saud bin Abdul Aziz.
