New Delhi: The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia is collecting details of thousands of workers from the country laid off by their employers there, ahead of MoS External Affairs V K Singh's visit there to asses the situation and finalise modalities to bring back those wanting to return home.
Currently a total of 7,700 affected Indian workers are living in 20 camps and the embassy is in the process of collecting information about others residing in different parts of Saudi Arabia.
Singh is leaving for Jeddah tonight via Dubai and MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said his on-ground assessment will determine future course of action. Earlier on Tuesday, Singh's ministerial colleague in the MEA M J Akbar, who looks after issues relating to the Gulf region, met Saudi Ambassador Saud bin Mohammed Al Sati and discussed the difficulties being faced by Indians who have lost their jobs.
Read: VK Singh leaves for Saudi today, to assess problems of jobless Indians
"Had fruitful discussions with Saudi Ambassador to India Dr. Saud bin Mohammed Al Sati on all bilateral issues.
"Glad to receive support and assurances from Saudi government to resolve all outstanding issues, including that of our Indian labourers," MoS in the MEA Akbar said in a series of tweets.
Thousands of Indian workers have lost their jobs due to slowdown in Saudi economy, triggered by low oil prices and cut in spending by government of that country. The Indian mission has provided food to the Indians who cannot buy it.
Read: No Indian worker will go hungry in Saudi Arabia, says Sushma Swaraj
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said on Monday that all affected Indians will be brought back.
A team from the Indian embassy had on Monday met Saudi labour officials to complete procedures relating to the protection of legal dues of the workers once they have departed from the country.
Swarup said the Indian embassy in Riyadh convened a meeting of community social workers and volunteers yesterday, where the Ambassador sought their help in collecting information about the affected workers. They were provided a proforma on which the requisiteinformation is to be submitted to the embassy.
The government has requested the Saudi authorities to give the unemployed Indian workers exit visas without NoC from employers and also urged it to clear the dues of workers who have not been paid for months, whenever they settle the accounts with the companies concerned.
MEA officials said Singh will reach Jeddah early next morning and is scheduled to return on the evening of Friday.
Swarup said 4,072 Indian workers belonging to M/s Saudi Oger are living in nine camps in Riyadh and one in Dammam, while 1,457 workers belonging to M/s SAAD Group are putting up in two camps in Dammam.
Five workers from M/s Shifa Sanaya are in a camp in Riyadh and 13 workers who were employed with M/s Taiya Contracting Company are staying in one camp.
"A total of 5547 Indian workers belonging to fourteen camps are being provided assistance by Indian Embassy in Riyadh. Of these, food was required by Indian workers in one camp each in Riyadh and Dammam.
"In addition, there are 2,153 Indian workers belonging to M/s Saudi Oger in six camps in Jeddah all of whom have been provided food by the Indian Consulate. Hence, there are atotal of 7700 affected Indians workers in twenty camps," said Swarup. The Embassy teams visited six camps yesterday in Riyadh.
"The information about each worker, about his total service, pending salary, desire to exit / continue / transfer is being collected separately," said the MEA Spokesperson.
Making a statement in Parliament on Monday, Swaraj had said the workers will be brought back home, asserting that not one of them will go hungry.
"Not one worker of ours will go hungry. This is my assurance to the country through Parliament. We will bring all of them back to India," Swaraj said.
Issues like logistics and modalities of a possible repatriation of the workers who want to return to India will be worked out during Singh's visit.
The government, Swaraj said, was in touch with the foreign and labour offices in Saudi Arabia to ensure early evacuation of affected Indians.
