Saudi plan to employ locals gives sleepless nights to migrant Indian workers
Hyderabad: If the economic slowdown in the Gulf has come as a big setback, the implementation of Saudisation (giving preference to locals for jobs over foreigners) is giving sleepless nights to migrant Indian workers in Saudi Arabia.
According to Telangana Migrants Rights Council president K. Narasimham Naidu, Indians working in semi-skilled sectors will have to leave if the Saudi government enforces the rule.
“The Saudi government is giving instructions to companies to recruit locals in middle level posts such as computer operators and accountants with a pay of nearly 3,500 riyal (1 riyal = Rs 17). Indians do the same work, with more dedication at a lower pay of 1,500 riyal.
Many companies do not want to forego the services of Indians. Nearly 5 lakh Telugu people work in this category,” he said. The situation might not be the same in the coming months if the Saudi government warns companies of serious repercussions for not following its orders, Mr Narasimham Naidu said.
The Telangana Overseas Manpower Company Limited, the government agency that oversees job placements of unemployed youth in Gulf countries, stated that they have not entered into tie-ups with any company from Saudi Arabia.
When asked if the agency was counselling the youth about Saudisation in Saudi Arabia which might render them jobless in the near future, an official stated that they would consult the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi for issues relating to Saudi Arabia.
Protector of Emigrants officials stated that there were no special instructions from the MEA regarding Saudi Arabia. The number of people going to Saudi from Telangana districts, like Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Medak is less compared to those going from other states at present, they said. Former minister and Congress MLC Shabbir Ali stated that daily at least 500 individuals were heading to Gulf countries from Telangana this year.
“Youth from north Telangana districts are heading to the Gulf due to prolonged drought conditions for the last two to three years. However, unlike during the Congress regime, they are not being given proper training now. We had set up training centres under National Academy of Construction to train youth on construction skills and activity, for which there are plenty of jobs in Gulf. The present government is not doing this,” he complained.
