JEDDAH — Over 50 companies and about 2,000 Indian workers, seeking to rectify their status by finding another employer, participated in a job fair held on the Indian Consulate premises on Thursday. “That about 2,000 got registered is itself a good sign, and the fact that more firms are showing up for these fairs is encouraging,” said Prabhat K. Jain, Consul Labor, while disclosing the numbers that attended the fair. “I expect most of the registered participants to be absorbed, as some of the companies were saying that with the approaching July 3 deadline, the Passport Department and other official outlets were speeding up the paperwork,” he added. “The response has been very good,” said M.K. Ghildiyal, Consul Commercial, adding, “Generally Indian companies have been responding well and there have been good response from Saudis to employ Indians, and that is very encouraging.” "The fact that the response has been good is due to our early hosting of such job fairs since May and spreading awareness through the Saudi Indian Business Network (SIBN), and in addition, we inserted ads in papers," he said. “The fact that the firms are here in big numbers speaks volumes. And up till now about 80 percent have benefited,” Ghildiyal said. “We are working toward the deadline and we hope to complete our part of the work by then,” he added. On the building of a database, he said, the numbers who have left or are leaving will be added to the database, but those remaining should register with the consulate in order for us to facilitate their stay. “We had about 23,000 Emergency Certificate (EC) applicants to return home during this amnesty period, and we have completed the work of 19,000 of these people,” said Pranav Ganesh, Consul Consular. “Hopefully by June 24 we will complete the paperwork for all applicants and allow them to go for fingerprinting at Tarheel the next day,” he added. Consul General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, who was at hand during the fair, oversaw the operations. The consulate will hold another job fair in Jeddah next Thursday. Most companies are seeking skilled and unskilled workers, with high demand for those versatile in the construction industry. Masons, plumbers, carpenters, steel erectors and fixers, painters, electricians, welders, AC technicians and laborers are the most needed. Among the skilled categories, different cadres of engineers are in demand. Volunteers from various Indian community groups were at hand to assist the job seekers. Indian Youth Welfare Association (IYWA) gave meal packs and water to the people who attended.
