When Mr Khader asked about the steps taken by the Indian mission in Saudi to address various problems faced by thousands of Indians in connection with Nitaqat policy, Indian Consul General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai admitted that the consulate lacks infrastructure and manpower to deal with the problems of thousands of Indian expatriates within the grace period of July 3.
Mr Kidwai said that the Indian mission has already sent a proposal to Labour Ministry of Saudi Arabia requesting further extension of grace-period so that all illegal Indian expats in the Kingdom take benefit from the amnesty. However, the Saudi Government has not yet approved our request, he added.
He also said that to cope with the increasing number of amnesty seekers applying for an emergency certificate (out-pass) from Indian diplomatic missions, the consulate has recruited around 30 additional staff and currently around 60-70 consulate officials deal with 3,000 to 5,000 applicants every day.
Indian workers have been thronging the consulate ever since a new labour policy was implemented in Saudi Arabia.
When Mr Khader asked about the next move of the consulate if Saudi Government denied to extend grace period, Mr Kidwai said that the Indian mission would take all possible steps to help the stranded workers from India.
“If the Saudi authorities continued crackdown on illegal foreigners, we will try to provide secure places for Indian expats seeking exit pass so that they will complete all procedures to return to their homeland and not face fine or prison in the Kingdom,” he said.
Urging the illegal expatriates from India to make use of grace period and return to the country before commencement of countrywide crackdown, Mr Kidwai said that those who return to India, can also come back to Saudi Arabia with valid documents in future.
Mr Khader was accompanied by Coastaldigest.com chairman Mohammad Asif.
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