The labour retrenchment is the latest example of how low oil prices have put pressure on Gulf economies and the companies that rely on public spending for much of their business.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has identified 7,700 Indians workers affected by the economic slowdown in Saudi Arabia. They have been lodged in 22 camps in Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah. Most of them who work for construction companies are stranded without money or food for the past seven months.
Official spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Tuesday informed that Indian embassy in Riyadh had convened a meeting of community social workers and volunteers wherein the ambassador sought the help of the community in collecting information about the affected workers from different companies in the kingdom. So far 5,547 Indian workers have taken refuge in fourteen camps handled by Indian embassy in Riyadh. In addition, there are 2,153 Indian workers belonging to M/s. Saudi Oger in six camps in Jeddah all of whom are being provided food by the Indian consulate. The government is collecting data about their total service, pending salary, etc to begin negotiations with their employers.
An embassy team on Monday met the labour officials to complete procedures related to the protection of legal dues of the workers, once they depart on final exit. The conglomerate Saudi Oger Limited had employed many of the stranded Indian workers, and held on to their passports, as is the case with low-income migrant workers throughout the Gulf. The company, returns the passport only when workers buy a ticket back home to India.
The labour retrenchment is the latest example of how low oil prices have put pressure on Gulf economies and the companies that rely on public spending for much of their business.
Saudi Arabia's biggest construction companies have felt the pinch. Low-wage workers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are the backbone of the construction business in Gulf
Details of affected workers
(i) 4,072 workers belonging to M/s. Saudi Oger in Riyadh in ten camps – nine in Riyadh and one in Damman.
(ii) 1,457 workers belonging to M/s. SAAD Group, Dammam in two camps in Dammam.
(iii) Five workers belonging to M/s. Shifa Sanaya, Riyadh in one camp
(iv) 13 workers belonging to M/s. Taiya Contracting, Riyadh in one camp
(V) 2,153 Indian workers belonging to M/s. Saudi Oger in six camps in Jedda
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