Saudi Arabia / Indian workers to be regularized

Indian workers who have travelled to Saudi Arabia legally will be allowed to regularise their visa status, get new jobs or to return home if they register voluntarily with the Saudi authorities during the three months grace period announced by the Kingdom, according to officials. This

was among the issues discussed at the joint group meeting held this week at the Saudi ministry of labour. The group will continue their discussions next week, said a statement issued from the Indian embassy in Riyadh.

The joint group was set up during the discussions between Saudi labour minister Adel Fakeih and Indian delegation led by overseas affairs minister Vayalar Ravi in Jeddah on April 28.

The Group is mandated to discuss all issues pertaining to the welfare of the Indian community in Saudi Arabia including immediate issues pertaining to implementation of Nitaqat programme and overstaying Indian workers.

The ‘Nitaqat’ law makes it mandatory for local firms to hire one Saudi national for every 10 migrant workers. There has been widespread perception that the new policy will lead to denial of job opportunities for a large number of Indians.

Over two million Indians are currently working in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government was implementing the Nitaqat law to cut unemployment in the country.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor

via Indian workers to be regularised: Saudi Arabia – Hindustan Times.