Riyadh, Dec 23: In a positive development, Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia has not only assured to take all possible steps to solve the problem of 23 stranded Indian expatriates, but also has sent an officer to study their case.
The development comes after Coastaldigest.com brought the issue of 23 expatriates, mostly Mangaloreans, who were duped and black-mailed by the sponsor in the wake of strict implementation of Nitaqat law in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to light.
In a meeting with Coastaldigest.com chairman Asif Amaco, who accompanied four of the stranded Mangalorens to the Indian Embassy on Sunday, Deputy Chief of Mission in Riyadh Sibi George said that the India mission in the Kingdom will extend all possible support to the stranded Indian expats.
He also promised to raise the issue with labour ministry of Saudi Arabia.
“The Embassy has been working with the community and the Saudi authorities to help the stranded Indians in Saudi Arabia. As of now 1.4 million Indians have availed the concessions given by grace period. We will continue our efforts to address all issues of welfare of Indians in the Kingdom,” he said.
These stranded workers or any other of our nationals are welcome to visit the Embassy or contact us any time for assistance. The Embassy also has an open house policy and all Indians are welcome to contact us 24x7, he said.
Meanwhile, the Embassy also dispatched an officer to visit the 23 stranded expats sheltered at a room in Naseem area of Riyadh.
After verifying the documents including copy of employment contract during the meeting, the Embassy also wrote to Mumbai based Honesty Enterprises, through which, these expatriates had flown into the Kingdom.
“The 23 workers recruited by your office and sent to Saudi Arabia for employment have reported to this Embassy that they are facing contractual problems. The employer has not given them job, salary and basic facilities as per the contract. They are facing hardship and want their grievances to be resolved immediately or else they want to return to India. You are requested to contact the sponsor/employer or your representative in Saudi Arabia immediately and resolve their grievance immediately or else to repatriate them to India bearing all visa and travel expenses without delay,” stated the letter, a copy of which is obtained by Coastaldiges.com.
“If immediate action is not taken in this matter, we will be constrained to report to the Ministry of Overseas, New Delhi, for its immediate intervention,” said the letter.
Speaking to Coastaldigest.com Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader said that he had already brought the issue to the notice of several union ministers including Veerappa Moily and Oscar Fernandes.
“Family members of the stranded Mangalorean expats need not to be worried. Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia and union ministers have promised to try their best to give justice to solve this problem,” he said.
He also urged the foreign job seekers not to be fooled by the false promises of fake agents.
Also Read: Duped and blackmailed by sponsor, 23 Mangaloreans stranded in Nitaqat-hit Saudi Arabia
Four of the 23 stranded Indian expatriate who have currently taken shelter in Naseem area of Riyadh visited the Indian Embassy on Sunday
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