JEDDAH — Indian Consulate and the Ministry of Labor and Social Development have come up with a four-pronged solution to the crisis being faced by hundreds of workers rendered jobless by massive downsizing by Saudi Oger and other companies. Indian Consul General Mohammed Noor Rahman Sheikh met Director General of the Labor Department in Makkah Abdullah Al-Olayan to finalize these measures. As part of the four-pronged solution, the stranded workers will be allowed to renew their iqamas (residence permits) free of charge, no fees will be charged for stamping exit visas, transfer of sponsorship will be facilitated, and those willing to go back home will be transported on return Haj flights which usually go empty. "It was a positive meeting," the consul general told Saudi Gazette. The Saudi authorities have assured us that they will provide all possible help, he said. Sheikh said that workers can register their claims with the Ministry of Labor and Social Development with regard to their dues and end of service benefits. Their complaints will be processed in due course. The immediate task which has been undertaken is to take care of the labor camps and the food requirements of the stranded workers. The municipality and other public agencies have been involved in sanitizing the camps, the consul general said. In New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said on Tuesday that a total of 7,700 Indian workers are stranded in 20 labor camps. He said 6,225 workers belonging to Saudi Oger are in nine camps in Riyadh, six in Jeddah and one in Dammam. He said 1,457 workers belonging to SAAD Group are in two camps in Dammam, five workers belonging to Shifa Sanaya are in one camp in Riyadh, 13 workers belonging to Taiya Contracting are in one camp in the capital. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh convened a meeting of community volunteers on Monday, and gave them forms to collect information about each worker, about his total service, pending salary, desire to go back home or to continue or to receive a transfer to other companies.
