Eleven Indian workers have filed a case in the Jeddah labor court against a trading company for not paying them their salaries for the past nine months. Mohammed Reyaz Bagan, Moti Peetha Ram, Nagender Kumar, Ajeet Bhoora Khan, Ramjan Khan, Nisar Ahmed, Mohammed Rafi, Kaleem Ahmed, Mohammed Reyaz Ahmed, Naeem Ahmad and Sabit Hussain were hired from India by the trading company nine months ago to work in various capacities like heavy-duty drivers, auto cad operators, road surveyors etc. “We came here after signing a contract in India for a SR2,000 monthly salary and other facilities,” Moti Pita Ram, one of the workers, told Saudi Gazette. “We sold our property to pay the company visa requirement fees, but the company has not paid us a single penny,” complained Ramjan Khan, another worker. The workers said they asked for work and their salary but were threatened by the manager. “We asked them to give us work, but nothing happened. In fact, they threatened us that they will send us back home on exit visa without paying anything,” said Mohamed Reyaz Bagan, who was hired as an auto cad operator but was asked to do a laborer's job. When Reyaz refused to do any work not mentioned in his contract, the company put him on exit visa. “Now for two months, I have been waiting to go home, but they are not paying me anything nor are they giving me my passport. They called me at the airport twice but didn't give me my passport and ticket. They asked me to sign a paper that everything has been cleared by the company,” he said. Sabit Hussain, another worker of the same group, said the company cancelled their previous contracts and made new ones with reduced salaries. According to the original contract signed in India, the company was responsible for monthly salary, accommodation, transportation, 45-day vacation every two years with return tickets, food allowance of SR200 every month and medical facilities. But the company has failed to fulfill most of the clauses, say the workers. According to sources in the Consulate General of India, the workers brought the case four months ago and then the company was asked by the consulate to settle the matter within 10 days. But up till now nothing has been done. In fact, the consulate objected to the fresh 220 work visas issued to the erring company to hire workers from India. “They exploited our nationals, so we are sending a report to the Saudi government to take care of the matter,” said the consulate source. The Saudi Gazette contacted the company for its comments on the issue, but several appointments with the top management were canceled. Meanwhile, 21 workers of the same company lodged a complaint with the labor court in Najran for non-payment of salaries, according to a report published in the Arabic language daily Al-Hayat on Dec. 10 last year. __
