RIYADH, Sep 26 (Arab News): Saudi Arabia has assured New Delhi of full support to repatriate thousands of illegal Indian workers, and to help expedite the legal issues affecting stranded Indians and prisoners in different jails.
The assurance of support came during an hour-long meeting held between Deputy Minister of Labor Abdulwaheed Al-Humaid and India’s Union Minister for Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi, on Saturday.
“India, on its part, has also taken several measures … we have planned to introduce comprehensive legislation to fight illegal migration and ensure the protection of legal workers,” said Ravi who, along with Indian Ambassador Talmiz Ahmed, also held talks with Prince Sattam, vice governor of Riyadh region. Ravi, in an exclusive interview with Arab News, spoke at length about workers’ problems, saying: “The embassy in cooperation with the Saudi government agencies will work out a procedure of mass repatriation during the amnesty period”.
In Riyadh, Ravi was also received by Ahmed at the embassy, where the minister addressed a cross-section of the Indian community. The minister also attended a community function on Friday, chaired by Kunji Kumbla, chief of the Overseas Indian Cultural Congress (OICC). The minister, who wrapped up his weeklong visit to the Kingdom on Saturday, will leave for Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE.
Referring to the “dubious” role of Indian recruitment agents, the minister expressed his annoyance at recruitment agencies that send the work force to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states without checking the credentials of the employers. He said: “The embassy will also take the help of Indian associations and community leaders to maximize the benefit of the amnesty for illegal workers as announced by the Saudi government”.
According to an estimate, the total number of illegal Indian workers ranges between 30,000 and 50,000 in Saudi Arabia. Ahmed, who was accompanying the minister, said there were about 1,200 Indian prisoners, currently serving prison terms in the Kingdom. The number of those waiting for trial is not known. But the total number of Indian passport holders exceeds two million, making India the largest exporter of workers to the Kingdom.
Asked about the repatriation of convicts to serve their terms in Indian jails following the implementation of the agreement of the exchange of prisoners, he said that the process would start “once the details are worked out and once the accord becomes effective.”
The minister also called on his compatriots “not to abscond from their employers” and stick to the terms and conditions of the labor contracts. Saudi officials have brought such cases to the notice of the Indian side, he said.
“I have opened the door for further discussions with the Saudi Ministry of Labor,” he added, adding: “An online pilot project to check labor fraud and visa problems has been launched … and that is in the interest of the workers and the immigrants.”
Referring to the proposed immigration and workers’ law, Ravi said the move was aimed at protecting, especially the semi-skilled work force, which is often fleeced by illegal recruitment agencies. He said the draft of the Emigration Management Bill, aimed at replacing the Emigration Act, was under discussion at the government secretaries’ level.
Replying to a question on false information given by Saudi sponsors to obtain new visas (haroob), the minister said he had come to know about this new problem wherein the sponsor issues a visa and after the worker arrives, he declares him a runaway, cancels the visa and sells it visa again leaving the worker without a sponsor rendering his status illegal. “The worker comes legally, but unfortunately becomes illegal because of the sponsor’s behavior,” he added. “It is a serious issue which I have taken up with Saudi officials,” he added.
“I understand that the Saudi government will never allow such ‘visa trade,’ to go on,” said the minister, adding that the Saudi sponsors will now be required to deposit SR2,000 and all necessary papers to file a haroob case. This new move from the Saudi government will discourage the practice, he added. In Saudi Arabia, the number of complaints has come down in general, he said. “Moreover, the Indian Embassy is fully aware of the existing problems and issues affecting the workers here,” said the minister. He also called on the community NGOs to closely coordinate with the embassy on labor issues.