Nitaqat or law making jobs for locals complusory forces 1.34 lakh Indians to return home for lack of legal papers.
Change in regulations — Nitaqat or the mandatory employment to locals — in the domestic market by Saudi Arabia has arm twisted lakhs of foreign workers employed there to rework on their papers to continue working as labourers in the Gulf country. Around 1.34 lakh Indian workers, including 431 Gujaratis, also had to pack their bags and come back home.
Talking to dna, deputy chief of mission of Embassy of India in Riyadh, Sibi George said: “Till end of October, 14 lakh Indians availed concessions during the grace period. This includes 4.34 lakh Indians who transferred their services to other firms, 4.81 lakh who changed their jobs and over 4.70 lakh who renewed their licenses or job permits. The number of Indians who left on final exit during the grace period is 1.34 lakh.” He added that it is impossible to ascertain the exact number of Gujaratis living in the kingdom, however, 431 have so far applied for emergency exit certificates.
According to Indian embassy the new rules is not going to negatively affect the migrants working in Saudi Arabia. “What government here has done is that it has made laws and regulations surrounding labour market more stringent and clearer. They have made it mandatory for local businesses to recruit minimum 10% Saudi citizens. It has also allotted 40% quota for Indians. It means firm can hire 40% Indian workers. The new rules are going to benefit and make labour market transparent here,” George said.
According to embassy data, migrant Indian population in Saudi Arabia has increased over the years. From 14 lakh Indians in Saudi Arabia the size of migrant population increased to 24 lakh in 2012 and further to 28 lakh in 2013. “The new rules came into effect last year, but was slow to catch on with the announcement and implementation of large construction and infrastructure projects here. Indians are preferred because they are hard working, skilled and considered as law abiding citizens. Over three decades we have been here,” George added.
In April 2012, Saudi Arabia amended its labour laws and mandated local firms to recruit locals in their total workforce. A new system under the name ‘Nitaqat’ for localising the jobs in the kingdom was implemented to replace the system of Saudization.
The move is aimed to protect unemployed youth in the country. However, during the negotiations with Salman Khurshid, external affairs minister of India, the kingdom announced the grace period for Indian workers till November 3. Experts also believe that this will affect only those people who does not have work permit or are staying back illegally. ‘This is actually an opportunity for illegal people to get back to their home country,” George said.
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