Enslaved in Saudi Arabia, 200 Indians cry for help

[mirage2K]

CHENNAI: Nearly 200 skilled and unskilled labourers from Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh are stranded in Saudi Arabia after their Bangladeshi employer cheated them. The workers said they were promised jobs in a plastic factory, but were made to clean toilets.

Sources at the Indian mission in Saudi Arabia said the Indians travelled to Dammam after paying Rs 90,000 to Rs 150,000 each to a Mumbai-based labour agent called Fahad Enterprises. The workers have appealed to the government of India for help to return home.

"I have asked Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Hamid Ali Rao to look into this and get back to me. Despite so many awareness campaigns and advertisements asking our people to go abroad only through proper channels, many of them continue to go undocumented. This has become a big problem," minister for overseas Indian affairs Vayalar Ravi told TOI on Saturday.

The duped Indians were recruited for a plastic factory and ended up in a manpower supplying company managed by two Bangladeshis. Speaking to TOI from the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, the men said that they had lodged a complaint with Indian diplomats in Dammam. The workers said that the recruitment agent in Mumbai had promised them jobs as skilled workers in Al-Babtain Plastic Factory in Dammam.

A worker, who didn't want to be named fearing victimization, told TOI he and the others have not been paid since they reached Saudi Arabia two months ago. "Please help us. All we want now is to get back home and be with our families. These two months have been a nightmare for us, with no food or roof over our heads," he said. The workers said they were not given food whenever they refused to clean toilets.

The workers said they had invested their life's savings to go to Saudi Arabia and never imagined they would end up as beggars. A number of them have borrowed money from private lenders on huge interest rates; one pledged gold meant for his sister's wedding. Indian Embassy officials in Riyadh were not available for comment.

Enslaved in Saudi Arabia, 200 Indians cry for help - The Times of India

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

Saudi woman gets 3 years for beating maid

Dammam police helps maid gets her rights

Man sentenced to prison for turning a blind eye on a maid abuse

 

[Mosamania]

I Quote:

"I have asked Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Hamid Ali Rao to look into this and get back to me. Despite so many awareness campaigns and advertisements asking our people to go abroad only through proper channels, many of them continue to go undocumented. This has become a big problem,"


As you can see, it is their fault for not following legal procedures. That being said this is entirely a South Asian on South Asian action. Bangladeshis tricked Indians.

 

[A1Kaid]

Their cries will fall on deaf ears, because New Delhi will not raise their concern with Riyadh. Many Indian laborers will be effected if Indian-KSA relations were to go sour, they could face many restrictions. Indian nationals in KSA are classified as third class nationals and have little rights and fewer privileges.

 

[cloud_9]

Their cries will fall on deaf ears, because New Delhi will not raise their concern with Riyadh. Many Indian laborers will be effected if Indian-KSA relations were to go sour, they could face many restrictions. Indian nationals in KSA are classified as third class nationals and have little rights and fewer privileges.

The news is not about Pakistan

External Affairs Minister Shri Salman Khurshid visit consulate genaral of india, Jeddah (May 26, 2013)

External Affairs Minister meeting with Minister Of Interior HRH Prince Muhammad Bin Nayif Al-Saud

Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid call on Saudi Minister of Labour H.E. Er. Adel bin Muhammad Fakeih in Jeddha

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid call on his Saudi counterpart HRH Prince Saud Al Faisal in Jeddah (May 25, 2013)

External Affairs Minister Sh. Salman Khurshid call on Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Defence Minister of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah (May 25, 2013)

Think Tank

 

[littleboy]

Nice pics.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

Their cries will fall on deaf ears, because New Delhi will not raise their concern with Riyadh. Many Indian laborers will be effected if Indian-KSA relations were to go sour, they could face many restrictions. Indian nationals in KSA are classified as third class nationals and have little rights and fewer privileges.

Absolutely not. You guys are both awesome!