India Will Bring Back 10,000 Indian Workers Facing ‘Food Crisis’ In Saudi Arabia

Indian Workers come back from Saudi Arabia

India on Sunday said that it will send a government minister to Saudi Arabia to try and bring back almost 10,000 Indian workers who are stuck there and are facing a “food crisis” because they are unable to afford meals after being laid off from their jobs in the country. Low oil prices in Saudi Arabia have forced the Saudi government to hack spending since last year which has resulted in heavy pressure on the local construction firms which rely on state contracts which further forced the companies to lay-off the employees. This has left many with no money and food.

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday said that over 10,000 Indians in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are facing a “food crisis” because of economic hardships, while she appealed to the other estimated 3 million Indians living in Saudi Arabia to help the needy.

“I assure you that no Indian worker rendered unemployed in Saudi Arabia will go without food. I am monitoring the situation on hourly basis. I am satisfied to say this in the Parliament that ration (food packets) has been distributed to all the five camps for the next 10 days,” said Sushma Swaraj.

“But this is not a permanent solution to the problem. The companies have shut their factories and left. We can’t leave our workers there. I contacted their foreign office and labour office. We have asked the foreign office to authorize us to bring them from Saudi Arabia,” she added.

Elaborating on the situation, Sushma said: “But their payments are also due. So, I have aked the labour office that each one of them will sign a contract. Before the company pays the government’s (Saudi Arabia) dues, they should first pay these workers. All the formalities will be completed once V.K. Singh reaches Riyadh. Not even a single worker will stay hungry. Everyone will get food this is my assurance to the country through the Parliament.”

Ms Swaraj on Saturday said that MJ Akbar, Minister of State for external affairs, would take up the issue with the respective authorities in the two Middle Eastern countries, saying that the government was monitoring the situation on an hourly basis.

“Large number of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The employers have not paid wages, closed down their factories,” she tweeted on Saturday.
“While situation in Kuwait is manageable, matters are much worse in Saudi Arabia,” she said in another tweet.

Minister of State for External Affairs, VK Singh, will travel to Saudi Arabia next week for the further proceedings.

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